Health has always been people’s key priority, which encouraged the humankind to conduct the most daring experiments. One of the most recent concerns, the choice between the social and the medical justice, has emphasized once again the importance of the biological approach to the needs and wants of people. Because of the biological element within human beings is strong enough to dominate the social one and often predetermines the latter, it is essential to draw the line between the social and the medical justice.
It must be admitted that the two models, the social justice and the medical one, concern different aspects of people’s lives. In contrast to the medical one, which touches upon exclusively medical and biological issues, the system of social justice concerns the sphere of the social life of the individuals. Therefore, it must be admitted that the two models offer different viewpoints of one and the same problem – people’s activity. Hence, considering the basic aspects of human’s life, one can claim with certainty that the structure of the social model offers the consideration of people’s life together with a number of social factors that influence it, whereas the biological one presupposes the specifics off human body firsthand (Stewart 6).
It is also essential to realize that the majority of the humankind has few chances to succeed. Taking a closer look at the table suggested by Kronenberg (618), one can see that the social injustice is obvious and shocking. There is no doubt that something has to be done to prevent such things as the inequality, the lack or absence o medical service, poverty and famine from occurring. In spite of the fact that such reforms might take hundreds of years, something has to be started straightaway, otherwise the situation will grow increasingly threatening until people finally give in and stop the fight. For this not to happen, the current situation in the world must be reconsidered and the necessary measures are to be taken. Since at present the social injustice as well as the medical one hinders the career of the challenged people, the aspects of the medical and social justice touching upon the social acceptation of the disabled people must be reconsidered.
This is where the profession of the OT, or the occupational therapist, stems from. As Braveman explained, “occupational therapy’s vision is to promote social justice by enabling people to participate as valued members of society despite diverse or limited occupational potential” (8). Aimed at helping people with physical and mental disparities to enter the society and live a full life, this profession is of paramount importance in the modern society. Helping to level the social and the medical justice in the society, the profession of the OT proves one of the most essential at the moment.
Unfortunately, the need in the OT specialists is evident. Despite the common understanding of the complicacies that the disabled have to face, the society is not ready yet to accept such people as their peers. As Bass-Haugen marled, “An analysis of variables relevant to occupational therapy from the selected surveys showed evidence of health disparities for race/ethnicity and income levels” (27)
With help of the OT professionals, the rights of the disabled and challenged people will be restored. Assisting the latter in their integration into the society, OTs will bridge people. Perhaps, this will make the humankind a bit more humane.
Reference List
Bass-Haugen, J. D. (2009). Health Disparities: Examination of Evidence Relevant for Occupational Therapy. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 63, 24–34.
Braveman, B., & Bass-Haugen, J. D. (2009). From the Desks of the Guest Editors – Social Justice and Health Disparities: An Evolving Discourse in Occupational Therapy Research and Intervention. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 63, 7–12.
Kronenberg, F. & Polland, N. (2006) Political Dimensions of Occupation and the Roles of Occupational Therapy. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 60 (6): 617-625
Stewart, D., & Law, M. (2003) The Environment: Paradigms and Practice in Health, Occupational Therapy and Inquiry. Using Environments to Enable Occupational Performance. Ed. Lori Letts et al.