Critiquing the medicalization thesis Flashcards
define medicalization
process through which condition/behaviour becomes defined as medical problem requiring medical solution.
-> medical jurisdiction + authority into broader areas of life.
4 questions : re medicalization
bad?
always promoted by doctors, for doctors?
universal?
declining (demedicalization)?
medicalization -bad?
suffer from condition - benefit when labelled disease (absolve responsibility).
bad -> sick.
-> sometimes still has stigma even tho thought of as “illness”
-> opioid crisis: crime or addiction? jail may be worse than harm reduction, support + rehab.
medicalization - promoted for docs by docs?
some things docs refuse to promote: Morgellon’s. no medicalization
domestic violence; may be due to illness, but remain criminal bc illness would absolve responsibility.
-> things with genetic background (ie. sociopaths) few attempts to treat + merit more attention
other groups promote: consumers; self-help; pharmaceutical industry
->
medicalization - consumer promotion
believe experience should occur under control of physician. situation/event that requires medicalization.
- > medicalized birth. epidural: no evidence it’s good. decision made by mother - control. 60% of mothers ask +/r receive epidural. doc presents options - some women demand, others avoid. doc take over control + do what’s best.
- > too posh to push = fully medicalized to minimize discomfort, schedule c-section. some dislike alienation; others relinquish control willingly.
self help group promotion
people may actively seek to have experiences recognized as medical disease. Educate public; help ppl with condition + help family of those affected.
-> PTSD. physician reluctant to recognize as mental disorder. veterans pushed for it
PTSD + self-help group promotion
assumed temporary condition, assumed recovery + sent ppl back into combat.
DSM: 1952: listed.
DSM-2: not listed. popln wasnt in war - didnt see. then vietnam: great increase in PTSD in veterans. diagnosed as schizo, but veterans pushed for PTSD.
1980s- PTSD formally recognized.
pharmaceuticla industry promotion
direct-to-consumer advertising;
what is direct-to-consumer advertising?
use of mass media to promote drugs that require prescription
direct-to-consumer advertising is illegal in all but 2 countries in world
USA + New Zealand.
what two types of ads allowed in Canada?
reminder ads: name of med; not its condition. suggest/imply
help-seeking ads: know condition but not med/manufacterer. can be problematic for drug companies, but few manufacterers’patent = obviously that drug.
does direct-to-consumer advertising work?
see self in add, ask doc for meds, doc complies. canada sees american ads + influenced by this.
-> consequences of buying into ads. not enough info about risks.
example of direct-to-consumer advertisin
vioxx: heavily marketed in US.
spent 160 mill on advert.
sales ^ 4x. 10th best selling drug in Canada
does direct-to-consumer advertising medicalize human experience or allow more informed choice? Pro ?
Pro :
- educational + health-promoting. disease is under-diagnosed - public well-served by knowledge; see doctor about symptom (alert early symptom - better outcome).
- provide choice: learn drugs + empower
direct-to-consumer = medicalize or informed choice? con?
con: medicalizes human experience.
1. marketing > education
2. misleading : believe at greater risk than actually are. exaggerated benefits > downplayed side effects
