The Medical model describes the approach to illness which is dominant in Western medicine. It aims to find medical treatments for diagnosed symptoms and syndromes and treats the human body as a very complex mechanism.

The medical model drives research and theorizing about physical or psychological difficulties on a basis of causation and remediation.

It can be contrasted with the holistic model of the alternative health movement and the social model of the Disability rights movement.

See also

• Medical model of disability

References

• 'Medical model' vs 'social model' British Film Institute Education.
• Disability Awareness at the University of Sheffield , UK
• Medical model Open university UK