Critical Approach:
The critical approach of medical anthropology deals with biomedicine and the culture of it. Biomedicine is typically associated with two claims; the claim of universitality and the claim of objectivity in biomedicine. The claim of objectivity discusses how biomedicine is neutral from cultural and human influence and the claim of universitality describes how biomedicine reflects nature as well as truth. Medical anthropologists discuss three main groups of biomedicine, institution history of biomedicine, rituals of biomedicine, and language of biomedical facts. (ANP Lecture 5.1). Because of the rise in technological advances in the world today combined with medical research, medical discoveries as well as new treatments are found all of the time in the medical field. Doctors and medical professionals are always working on finding new innovative ways to provide their patients with optimal care. Studying the critical approach of medical anthropology is important when researching autism disorder because so many people are effected by this illness around the world today.
Autism is influenced and understood in today's society by a number of factors. Genetic/biological factors are the primary cause of autism in patients, but social and economic factors also definitely play a role in autistic patients. Autism is caused primarily by genetic mutations in DNA sequences, but symptoms may become more severe if left untreated due to economic issues. Many different therapies are offered today to help autistic patients alleviate their symptoms of motor/physical difficulties as well as speech therapies. If a family is unable to afford such services to treat the patient with autism, they may not help the patient develop more normally in comparison to an autistic patient who has the economic status and can pay for all types of medical treatments and therapies. In regards to political influences, many people are advocating for more research to be conducted in hopes of finding more cures for autism. In 2000, 1 in every 88 babies born in America that year went on to develop an autism spectrum disorder. And yet, our country spent barely $50 million on research for autism that year. Our community pushed the United States Congress and with heavy lifting, the federal government now appropriates close to $235 million per year to the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Defense for research and services related to autism. (Autism Speaks). Many advocates push for more research and financial aid opportunities for autistic patients, shown in this ABC news video: http://abc11.com/politics/autism-advocates-rally-for-autism-insurance-bill-/189706/
This illness has seemingly become more medicalized in western cultures over time. There are ads in magazines and commercials all over the place advocating research for autism. The picture above is an example of an autism advocacy/research institute informing people of the illness and the research that is needed for it. (Autism Speaks). Restaurants and stores even sometimes have a donation jar for donating towards research for the illness. When it is believed that a child may have autism, doctors conduct neurological and physical examinations as well as just talking with the patient in order to make a diagnosis. After being diagnosed with autism, patients are urged to attend therapies in order to improve brain, social, and physical developments. (Autism Speaks).
In American culture, this illness is particularly depicted as something we should provide more research for and advocate for. If someone has autism, there are many different options out there to seek treatments.
Citations:
"What Is Autism?." Autism Speaks. http://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism (accessed July 29, 2014).
"Odds' Campaign Reaches Millions." Autism Speaks. Accessed August 11, 2014.
Karim, Taz. "Lecture 5.1: Culture of Biomedicine." ANP 204 Course Website. Accesses: August 12, 2014.
"Autism Advocates Rally for Autism Insurance Bill." ABC11 Raleigh-Durham. Accessed August 14, 2014.
The critical approach of medical anthropology deals with biomedicine and the culture of it. Biomedicine is typically associated with two claims; the claim of universitality and the claim of objectivity in biomedicine. The claim of objectivity discusses how biomedicine is neutral from cultural and human influence and the claim of universitality describes how biomedicine reflects nature as well as truth. Medical anthropologists discuss three main groups of biomedicine, institution history of biomedicine, rituals of biomedicine, and language of biomedical facts. (ANP Lecture 5.1). Because of the rise in technological advances in the world today combined with medical research, medical discoveries as well as new treatments are found all of the time in the medical field. Doctors and medical professionals are always working on finding new innovative ways to provide their patients with optimal care. Studying the critical approach of medical anthropology is important when researching autism disorder because so many people are effected by this illness around the world today.
Autism is influenced and understood in today's society by a number of factors. Genetic/biological factors are the primary cause of autism in patients, but social and economic factors also definitely play a role in autistic patients. Autism is caused primarily by genetic mutations in DNA sequences, but symptoms may become more severe if left untreated due to economic issues. Many different therapies are offered today to help autistic patients alleviate their symptoms of motor/physical difficulties as well as speech therapies. If a family is unable to afford such services to treat the patient with autism, they may not help the patient develop more normally in comparison to an autistic patient who has the economic status and can pay for all types of medical treatments and therapies. In regards to political influences, many people are advocating for more research to be conducted in hopes of finding more cures for autism. In 2000, 1 in every 88 babies born in America that year went on to develop an autism spectrum disorder. And yet, our country spent barely $50 million on research for autism that year. Our community pushed the United States Congress and with heavy lifting, the federal government now appropriates close to $235 million per year to the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Defense for research and services related to autism. (Autism Speaks). Many advocates push for more research and financial aid opportunities for autistic patients, shown in this ABC news video: http://abc11.com/politics/autism-advocates-rally-for-autism-insurance-bill-/189706/
This illness has seemingly become more medicalized in western cultures over time. There are ads in magazines and commercials all over the place advocating research for autism. The picture above is an example of an autism advocacy/research institute informing people of the illness and the research that is needed for it. (Autism Speaks). Restaurants and stores even sometimes have a donation jar for donating towards research for the illness. When it is believed that a child may have autism, doctors conduct neurological and physical examinations as well as just talking with the patient in order to make a diagnosis. After being diagnosed with autism, patients are urged to attend therapies in order to improve brain, social, and physical developments. (Autism Speaks).
In American culture, this illness is particularly depicted as something we should provide more research for and advocate for. If someone has autism, there are many different options out there to seek treatments.
Citations:
"What Is Autism?." Autism Speaks. http://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism (accessed July 29, 2014).
"Odds' Campaign Reaches Millions." Autism Speaks. Accessed August 11, 2014.
Karim, Taz. "Lecture 5.1: Culture of Biomedicine." ANP 204 Course Website. Accesses: August 12, 2014.
"Autism Advocates Rally for Autism Insurance Bill." ABC11 Raleigh-Durham. Accessed August 14, 2014.