Illich, a critic of the medical profession in industrial societies,
researched the "damage done" by the medical establishment on three levels.
This study presents an application of Illich's three-level theory of
iatrogenesis to a sample of elderly people in old-age homes in and around
Pretoria. Fifty in-depth interviews were conducted with old-age home
residents. In the focus on clinical iatrogenesis, the aspect of
defenceless patients was investigated. With regard to social iatrogenesis,
focus was on the interpretation of attitudes revealing an increased medical
dependency. Cultural iatrogenesis, which involves the influence of values
and norms on thinking patterns, is investigated in terms of the impact of
institutionalisation on the autonomy, independence and personal
responsibility of residents. Illich's solution to the problem of medicalisation
is to be found in the de-bureaucratisation and de-industrialisation
of society. Based on the assumptions of critical theory, the emancipation
of the individual is suggested as a basis of Illich's proposed structural
societal changes / M.A. (Sociology)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:unisa/oai:uir.unisa.ac.za:10500/15799 |
| Date | 11 1900 |
| Creators | Porter, Marlien |
| Contributors | Marais, S., McKay, Veronica I. |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Dissertation |
| Format | 1 online resource (xi, 253 leaves) |
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