THE BIOMEDICAL MODEL
Models in health denotes to conceptual frameworks or ways of thinking about health. The biomedical model focuses on physical or biological aspects of diseases and illnesses. The model (sometimes also known as the bio-mechanical) model of health, is a scientific measure of health and regards disease as the human body having a breakdown due to a biological reason. Patients are seen as a body that is sick and can be handled, explored and treated independently from their mind and other external considerations. The treatment therefore will be from medical professionals with appropriate knowledge, and must take place in an environment where medical technology exists (Giddens. 2009). 'Illness' is what a patient suffers when they …show more content…
Hospitals and other clinical environments with specialist medical equipment, is where treatment should be given and received. Doctors have power in the biomedical model and are also able to maintain it. Blaxter (2010) summed this up with the following quote; "There is an association with the definition of health as equilibrium and disease as a disturbance of the body's functions, with the purpose of medical technology the restoration to equilibrium". Specific advantages of the biomedical model, are that the patient's main concern is for the best possible treatment and recovery, and this model shows clear guidance in this regard. Furthermore, this approach is supported by scientific research, much of which is impartial and proved beyond reasonable doubt. The advantages of the model are that it creates advances in technology and research is known on how to treat and diagnose illness. Many common problems will be effectively treated and diagnosed. Life expectancy is also extended and it improves quality of …show more content…
1979. Cited by Moore. 2008). An example of this was the improvements to sanitation and hygiene; water supply; nutrition and food processing procedures, and better housing conditions. McKeown also argues that whilst medicine is at times very effective, it is also ineffective in the way that a patient may recover initially, whilst leaving underlying problems still present. An example of this would be a patient who had a liver transplant due to alcohol abuse, but the reasons for abusing alcohol in the first place may not have been fully addressed. A further point is that 'alternative' or 'complementary' medicine, that is not approved by the British Medical Association but which could be of benefit to patients, is seen as inferior by the medical profession - but to not even consider it, is not in the patient's best interests (Giddens.
Models in health denotes to conceptual frameworks or ways of thinking about health. The biomedical model focuses on physical or biological aspects of diseases and illnesses. The model (sometimes also known as the bio-mechanical) model of health, is a scientific measure of health and regards disease as the human body having a breakdown due to a biological reason. Patients are seen as a body that is sick and can be handled, explored and treated independently from their mind and other external considerations. The treatment therefore will be from medical professionals with appropriate knowledge, and must take place in an environment where medical technology exists (Giddens. 2009). 'Illness' is what a patient suffers when they …show more content…
Hospitals and other clinical environments with specialist medical equipment, is where treatment should be given and received. Doctors have power in the biomedical model and are also able to maintain it. Blaxter (2010) summed this up with the following quote; "There is an association with the definition of health as equilibrium and disease as a disturbance of the body's functions, with the purpose of medical technology the restoration to equilibrium". Specific advantages of the biomedical model, are that the patient's main concern is for the best possible treatment and recovery, and this model shows clear guidance in this regard. Furthermore, this approach is supported by scientific research, much of which is impartial and proved beyond reasonable doubt. The advantages of the model are that it creates advances in technology and research is known on how to treat and diagnose illness. Many common problems will be effectively treated and diagnosed. Life expectancy is also extended and it improves quality of …show more content…
1979. Cited by Moore. 2008). An example of this was the improvements to sanitation and hygiene; water supply; nutrition and food processing procedures, and better housing conditions. McKeown also argues that whilst medicine is at times very effective, it is also ineffective in the way that a patient may recover initially, whilst leaving underlying problems still present. An example of this would be a patient who had a liver transplant due to alcohol abuse, but the reasons for abusing alcohol in the first place may not have been fully addressed. A further point is that 'alternative' or 'complementary' medicine, that is not approved by the British Medical Association but which could be of benefit to patients, is seen as inferior by the medical profession - but to not even consider it, is not in the patient's best interests (Giddens.