Disability, Medicine and Society Flashcards
What is the biomedical approach to disability?
Defines the starting point of disability as an impairment due to a disease or condition
Disability is the restriction of ability resulting from impairment, which results in social disadvantage
What is the aim of medicine in terms of the biomedical approach to disability?
To prevent or treat impairment to return to a state of normal functioning
What is the social model of disability?
Social disadvantage comes from society’s inability to accommodate the differences caused by impairment rather than the impairment itself
Who came up with the social model of disability?
Mike Oliver
What three broad social barriers are present in the social model of disability?
Environment (e.g. stairs, language)
Attitudes (stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination)
Organisations (e.g. no. toilet breaks allowed at work)
What is the focus on ‘treatment’ in the social model of disability?
Acceptance and accommodation of difference
How does the equality act protect disabled people and their carers against discrimination and victimisation?
Public sector services legally required to make reasonable adjustments to make them accessible and effective for disabled people
What is direct discrimination?
Treating one group of people less favourably
What is indirect discrimination?
Rules, regulations and procedures that have the effect of discriminating against groups of people
What is victimisation?
treating someone less favourably because they have asserted their rights
What type of discrimination? Sarla is visually impaired and has an assistance dog. When she goes for her diabetes check up, reception staff says dogs are not allowed in the clinic and it will have to be left outside.
Indirect discrimination
What type of discrimination/victimisation?
Chris has autism and is anxious in public spaces. His father makes a complaint that his GP won’t provide a private waiting room. THE GP removes Chris and his father from her list.
Victimisation (unless clear breakdown e.g. father is verbally abusive)
What type of discrimination/victimisation? Jo has a learning disability. GP thinks Jo won’t cope with a mammogram so asks her to come back if lump increases in size.
Direct discrimination
