medicalization
-and the problem oriented heuristic
Karim Jebari
Division of Philosophy, KTH
How should we allocate resources in the healthcare system?
- A very difficult question.
It cannot be EASILY ANSWERED by applying a normative theory
Ex: utilitarianism
We therefore need mid-level principles
Normative theory
-->
mid-level principle
-->
priority policy
Disease prioritarianism (DP) is one such principle
DP: "The healthcare system should only treat and prevent diseases"
However, DP is flawed
There is no definition of disease that describes both
(a) biological dysfunctions
(b) conditions that ought to be treated
DP limits the potential to apply medical expertise
DP is problematic for patients with conditions that are difficult to diagnose
DP forces us to medicalize conditions
My suggestion: The problem-oriented heuristic
Three questions
1. Which problems are there?
2. Could they be addressed by medical science?
3. Is it effective/efficient to do so?
So we can now ask:
"Among the problems that medical science could effectively and efficiently address, which should be given priority?"
THe problem oriented heuristic could
1. Allow medical practitioners to address social problems
2. Reduce the need to pathologize
3. Address chronic problems that are difficult to diagnose
thank you!
karim jebari
Medikalisering
By Karim Jebari
