The Biomedical Model of Health and Disease Modern Western medicine's most dominant theory of health and disease, held by many formal practitioners health professionals such as doctors, consultants and surgeons, has been referred to as the “biomedical approach” or by some as the “biomechanical model”. The biomedical model assumes that disease is always due to abnormalities in the body's functioning. It is the basis of modern Western medical practice. It is based on the theory that if a body part breaks down, it must be repaired or replaced, in the same way that a machine would be repaired. This is a reductionist view of the disease. This means that he takes the simplest possible cause of the disease and applies the simplest remedy. Unlike other models such as the social model, it looks at and focuses on other factors, such as culture and social aspects. The biomedical model emphasizes disease being treated and hopefully cured, for example through the use of antibiotics. use to treat infections. Biomedical treatments often involve eliminating the cause, for example the virus or bacteria. The biomedical model is based on the belief that there is always a cure and the idea that illness is temporary, episodic and physical. Modern biomedicine is based on two major developments, both of which remain influential to this day. It is first important to consider the Cartesian revolution, following the 17th century French philosophy René Descartes. The Cartesian revolution encouraged the idea that the body and mind are independent or loosely related. In this mechanistic view, the body is seen as functioning like a machine, ...... middle of paper ...... but social factors must be taken into account. However, this “sick role” is a dangerous creation and could lead to a subculture of “sickness” that people are drawn to because of their release from responsibility. However, this perspective relies too heavily on the concept of an “oversocialized” society. Note that everyone accepts and adopts the "sick role", many would ignore the role and soldier anyway, and for example many disabled people do. Overall, at this point, the evidence presented appears inconclusive and unable to support any specific model, within the scope of this discussion. concluded that there was a greater need for a common model of health and ill-health, such as the new realist approach, which takes into account both medical and social aspects of health; provide a more complete definition of health.