Various items of clinical waste, predominantly used sharps, can be found on the streets of London. But today’s news report from the BBC is of a placenta found by London dog walker – perhaps more likely found by the dog than the walker – on a footpath near Tooting Bec Athletics Track, south London.

Police are now concerned that a vulnerable woman has given birth and may require medical assistance. Police believe the tub was partially buried before being unearthed by an animal, and is up to 2 weeks old.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21985948

The issue of waste disposal may seem rather trite in circumstances where we might opine of a woman, alone and frightened, seeking to conceal a birth. But equally is the persistent trend toward retention of a placenta after delivery – is it part of the earth mother thing? – where mothers ask to keep the placenta, to bury in the garden or elsewhere as if completing the earthly circle. Others like to eat it, consuming its nutrients as a paté or sautéed with some garden herbs, butter and garlic!

So, is this a tragic story of a concealed birth, and possibly of infanticide? Or some idiot mother who wanted to go with the flow and keep her placenta, but was then stuck when it started to decay? In the latter case, there are disposal issues, and possibly accusations of littering that might offend many but serve its purpose by dissuading others from doing likewise.