The Power of Medical Discourse

Exploring Clinical Drug Trials in the Context of Foucault


Essay, 2012

9 Pages, Grade: 1


Abstract or Introduction

In an age where growing technological advances in medicine are met by a population that is increasingly becoming more distanced to the process of medical development and treatment, “the penetration of capital into health care has become a highly contradictory process” (Baer, 2001, p. 49). As a result of pharmaceutical companies evolving more active and sometimes insidious roles within medicine, the organisation of power has shifted from being a relatively equal process between physicians and patients, to one that is now dominated by both medical professionals and pharmaceutical companies. Clinical Drug Trials (CDTs) represent a succinct example of how the biomedical system is inherently structured to maintain power imbalances between medical professionals and patients, with these imbalances manifesting on a socio-cultural and political level. By outlining a brief historical background of the medical movement from the 18th century to modern times and my experience of being a patient in CDTs, I will link my own perceptions and experiences of CDTs to the theories of Foucault and demonstrate how uneven power relations are heavily influenced by concepts of truth, language, and perception. The significance of Foucault’s theories on understanding the various forms and complexities of power within CDTs are shown to be valuable when applying an anthropological framework.

Details

Title
The Power of Medical Discourse
Subtitle
Exploring Clinical Drug Trials in the Context of Foucault
College
Massey University, New Zealand
Grade
1
Author
Year
2012
Pages
9
Catalog Number
V233068
ISBN (eBook)
9783656499121
ISBN (Book)
9783656507611
File size
432 KB
Language
English
Keywords
power, medical, discourse, exploring, clinical, drug, trials, context, foucault
Quote paper
Lee Hooper (Author), 2012, The Power of Medical Discourse, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/233068

Comments

  • No comments yet.
Read the ebook
Title: The Power of Medical Discourse



Upload papers

Your term paper / thesis:

- Publication as eBook and book
- High royalties for the sales
- Completely free - with ISBN
- It only takes five minutes
- Every paper finds readers

Publish now - it's free