The biomedical model of medicine has been around since the mid-nineteenth century as the predominant model used by physicians in diagnosing diseases.It has four core elements.
According to the biomedical model, health constitutes the freedom from disease, pain, or defect, thus making the normal human condition "healthy". The model's focus on the physical processes, such as the pathology, the biochemistry and the physiology of a disease, does not take into account the role of social factors or individual subjectivity. The model also overlooks the fact that the diagnosis (that will affect treatment of the patient) is a result of negotiation between doctor and patient.
It is however very limiting. By not taking into account society in general, the prevention of disease is omitted. Many diseases affecting first world countries nowadays, such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus are very much dependent on a person's actions and beliefs.
Famous quotes containing the word model:
“When Titian was mixing brown madder,
His model was posed up a ladder.
Said Titian, “That position
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So he lept up the ladder and had her.”
—Anonymous.