Medical model

Definition

The medical model is a framework for understanding health and illness that primarily focuses on biological factors and the physical aspects of disabilities and diseases. It emphasizes diagnosis, treatment, and the role of healthcare professionals in addressing medical conditions, often neglecting the social, cultural, and environmental influences on individuals' experiences of disability. This approach can reinforce ableism by viewing disabilities as problems that need to be fixed rather than recognizing the value and rights of individuals with disabilities.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The medical model frames disability as a deficiency or impairment that needs to be treated or cured, focusing on individual pathology rather than societal factors.
2. This model tends to overlook the lived experiences and perspectives of people with disabilities, reducing them to their medical conditions.
3. Critics of the medical model argue that it can lead to stigmatization and reinforce negative stereotypes about disabled individuals.
4. The reliance on the medical model can create barriers to accessing appropriate support services by prioritizing clinical interventions over social inclusion.
5. Alternative approaches, like the social model of disability, challenge the medical model by advocating for changes in society to accommodate and empower individuals with disabilities.

Review Questions

• How does the medical model approach the understanding of disability compared to the social model?
  • The medical model approaches disability primarily through a lens of biology and pathology, focusing on individual impairments and medical diagnoses. In contrast, the social model emphasizes societal barriers and discrimination as key factors that disable individuals. While the medical model seeks to treat or cure disabilities, the social model advocates for changing societal attitudes and structures to promote inclusivity and accessibility for people with disabilities.
• What impact does the medical model have on perceptions of ableism in society?
  • The medical model can perpetuate ableism by framing disabilities as individual deficiencies that require fixing or treatment, which reinforces negative stereotypes. This perspective often leads to societal attitudes that view disabled individuals as burdens or less capable. By emphasizing biological factors over social influences, the medical model neglects the rights and contributions of people with disabilities, further entrenching discriminatory beliefs and practices.
• Evaluate the implications of relying on the medical model for disability policy and support services.
  • Relying on the medical model can result in policies that prioritize clinical interventions over social inclusion strategies for individuals with disabilities. This focus may lead to inadequate support services that fail to address environmental barriers or societal attitudes that contribute to marginalization. Consequently, policies shaped by this model may not only overlook the holistic needs of disabled individuals but also perpetuate systemic discrimination, highlighting the necessity for a more integrated approach that combines both medical and social perspectives.

Related terms

social model of disability: An approach that views disability as a socially constructed phenomenon, emphasizing the barriers and societal attitudes that disable individuals rather than their physical or mental impairments.

ableism:

Discrimination or social prejudice against people with disabilities, often rooted in the belief that typical abilities are superior.

rehabilitation:

A process aimed at enabling individuals with disabilities to achieve optimal functioning and quality of life through medical interventions, therapy, and support services.