Your course material for the topic of “Power, Authority, and Institutions” introduced a seemingly illogical concept: The introduction of a new medication into a given society can lead to increasing rates of the illness it is meant to treat.
A. Why is it the case that more medication does not always lead to declining rates illness diagnoses and can, in fact, increase the rate of illness diagnoses in a population? What does this say about the power of the pharmaceutical industry and its influence on shaping conceptions of health and illness for doctors and patients? Cite at least one article or video from this week’s course material in your response.
B. Imagine that a patient comes into a doctor’s office with feelings of sadness and requests that a doctor prescribe them an opioid painkiller that they saw on TV. The doctor does not think this medication is necessary for the patient at this point; their medical training suggests that the patient should instead try other techniques first to help mitigate the pain. Do you think it is more important that the doctor 1) allow the patient to make their own healthcare decisions and prescribe them the medication they want to try to see if it helps, or 2) refuse to prescribe the medication at this point because they are the medical expert and know that the medication may not be necessary for the patient?
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