Medicine, Practice and Social Attitudes Essay (Critical Writing)

Exclusively available on Available only on IvyPanda® Made by Human No AI

It is impossible to imagine the modern world without medicine and its achievements. It is so because the health care industry provides individuals with numerous opportunities for how to solve their health problems. However, it is necessary to mention that people also influence medicine both positively and negatively. Thus, the principal purpose of this paper is to explain that it is impossible for the practice and science of medicine to be totally objective and completely removed from social attitudes.

Firstly, it is so because the health care industry is inseparably associated with the development of society. If the world experiences some essential changes, they will inevitably address medicine. Warner and Tighe (2001) show that American medicine was significantly influenced in the early 20th century when the United States entered the era of “continuing industrialization, open immigration policy, and urban expansion” (p. 317). Thus, the new world order denoted that medical scientists and practitioners should have contributed to solving existing problems. At that time, medical experts were forced to address various medical issues under social pressure. For example, Dr. Abbott explains that inebriety is a disease that is “produced by vice and leads to crime” (Warner & Tighe, 2001, p. 319). The difficulties existed because people who drank alcohol to excess had been considered sinners who had not deserved treatment.

Secondly, an opinion concerning the role of women in society also impacted the health care system. It refers to the fact that back in the early 20th century, female individuals were only responsible for bringing up their children and managing a household. Since the American community significantly limited the potential of women, it was appropriately reflected in medicine. This fact explains the presence of numerous works and articles dedicated to mothers and wives. For example, Warner and Tighe (2001) demonstrate how medical experts expressed their opinions concerning childrearing, feeding, and education. Thus, the article in the women’s magazine Modern Priscilla shows that some social attitudes can indicate the main focus of medical science at a particular moment.

Thirdly, the advertisement of a Pulmotor is another example of how society and its separate members can affect the health care industry. The given technological device is essential and necessary for every hospital because it can save the lives of acute patients. It is supported by the words that “for a hospital not to have a Pulmotor will soon be regarded as reprehensible negligence approximating malpractices” (Warner & Tighe, 2001, p. 261). This marketing hook demonstrates that the individuals or bodies that were connected to the production and sale of Pulmotors tried to influence the health care industry. As a result, patients did not want to come to hospitals that did not have such devices. Consequently, medicine was required to meet those social attitudes to provide care to patients.

In conclusion, it has been shown that the practice and science of medicine are in close connection with the existing social attitudes. When a community is experiencing a new period in its history, the health care industry should correspond to them. Furthermore, social roles are another significant element that shapes medicine. As has been discussed, when women were only responsible for childrearing, a more substantial part of scientific work was dedicated to this topic. Finally, marketing and commerce can also make the health care industry meet their requirements. Consequently, medicine is an integral element of a community, and it is in close connection with all its parts.

Reference

Warner, J. H., & Tighe, J. A. (2001). Major problems in the history of American medicine and public health: Documents and essays. Houghton Mifflin.

More related papers Related Essay Examples
Cite This paper
You're welcome to use this sample in your assignment. Be sure to cite it correctly

Reference

IvyPanda. (2022, February 14). Medicine, Practice and Social Attitudes. https://ivypanda.com/essays/medicine-practice-and-social-attitudes/

Work Cited

"Medicine, Practice and Social Attitudes." IvyPanda, 14 Feb. 2022, ivypanda.com/essays/medicine-practice-and-social-attitudes/.

References

IvyPanda. (2022) 'Medicine, Practice and Social Attitudes'. 14 February.

References

IvyPanda. 2022. "Medicine, Practice and Social Attitudes." February 14, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/medicine-practice-and-social-attitudes/.

1. IvyPanda. "Medicine, Practice and Social Attitudes." February 14, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/medicine-practice-and-social-attitudes/.


Bibliography


IvyPanda. "Medicine, Practice and Social Attitudes." February 14, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/medicine-practice-and-social-attitudes/.

If, for any reason, you believe that this content should not be published on our website, please request its removal.
Updated:
This academic paper example has been carefully picked, checked and refined by our editorial team.
No AI was involved: only quilified experts contributed.
You are free to use it for the following purposes:
  • To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
  • As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
  • As a template for you assignment
Privacy Settings

IvyPanda uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience, enabling functionalities such as:

  • Basic site functions
  • Ensuring secure, safe transactions
  • Secure account login
  • Remembering account, browser, and regional preferences
  • Remembering privacy and security settings
  • Analyzing site traffic and usage
  • Personalized search, content, and recommendations
  • Displaying relevant, targeted ads on and off IvyPanda

Please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy for detailed information.

Required Cookies & Technologies
Always active

Certain technologies we use are essential for critical functions such as security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and ensuring the site operates correctly for browsing and transactions.

Site Customization

Cookies and similar technologies are used to enhance your experience by:

  • Remembering general and regional preferences
  • Personalizing content, search, recommendations, and offers

Some functions, such as personalized recommendations, account preferences, or localization, may not work correctly without these technologies. For more details, please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy.

Personalized Advertising

To enable personalized advertising (such as interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. These partners may have their own information collected about you. Turning off the personalized advertising setting won't stop you from seeing IvyPanda ads, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive.

Personalized advertising may be considered a "sale" or "sharing" of the information under California and other state privacy laws, and you may have the right to opt out. Turning off personalized advertising allows you to exercise your right to opt out. Learn more in IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy.

1 / 1