Question

What is meant by the medicalization of illness? Why is it a concern? Have you or anyone you know experienced it?

Answer 1

Medicalization is social process in which conditions which were previously considered as normal is seen as diseases, or that needs medical attention, diagnose, and treatment. These conditions are culturally defined as pathological, and therefore require medical treatment as a medical illness.

Medicalization has brought benefits, as dementia, hyperactivity in children, many types of deviances were considered normal, are now percieved as medical conditions and are medically treated. But, it has become a concern because many of natural processes of developmental stages are brought under medicalization, which is unnecessary and is for the selfish interests of the pharmaceutical companies.

In India the preference for fairer complexion has lead to medicalization of the skin complexion. There are many treatments and skin creams available for it. This is a growing concern because the color of skin is a genetic make-up, which cannot be changed by creams or treatment. Similar, is the growing use of anti-aging treatments across the nations. The loosening of skin elasticity and tightness due to aging has gained the medical attention, and more and more people are engaged in getting treatment for it. They take hormone therapies and treatments that has got many side effects on the normal functioning of their bodies. Still people choose such treatments to maintain their physical image in their social arena.