A Synthesis Of Learning Across Topics - 2233 Words

Social Science and Medical Ethics: A Synthesis of Learning Across Topics Introduction: Allan Brandt (1997: 2) in the book â€Å"Morality and health: Interdisciplinary Perspectives†, begins with the assertion that health and morality are â€Å"deeply and fundamentally entangled.† He is not alone in this view. De Vries (2007), as cited in Harden (2014a), states that â€Å"The predominantly medical battle against obesity could then also be explained not because of the potential harmful effects of obesity on health, but by an inclination to medicalize behaviour we do not find acceptable.† What these two perspectives share is the concept that the knowledge of medicine is intrinsically linked to the social circumstances of the lay people and medical†¦show more content†¦In the third section, we will examine the role of the social sciences in deconstructing patient experiences of healthcare through concepts like the role of the doctor and the lay expert. We will apply this to different modes of doctor-patient communication and decision making, an d explore the use of patient narratives in clinical care. This will be tied to the concept of social construction of illness through patient experiences. The final section will outline the role of medical ethics in influencing medical treatment, examining the way in which various ethical theories and principles serve to resolve issues related to the social determinants of health, and doctor-patient relationships, and the significance of concepts like confidentiality, consent, autonomy, and justice in discussing patient experiences. The social construction of medical and lay knowledge about health, illness and disease. Blaxter (2004), calls upon the concept of social construction to examine disease categorization and treatment in lay and medical context, demonstrating how this both reflects and serves to reinforce social hierarchies and perceptions. In her view, not only the categorization but the very experience of disease faced by healthcare professionals and lay people are socially constructed. Blaxter