Tag: Disability studies

Emerging in tandem with the scientific revolution and germ theory, the medical model has profoundly influenced Western medicine for centuries. It provides a core framework for thinking about health and illness, focusing on the biological and treating the body like a machine. Despite its foundational role in medicine, understanding what is the concept of the medical model reveals both its powerful contributions and significant limitations.

While no single person is credited with creating the core principles of the medical model, two notable psychiatrists were instrumental in coining and popularizing the term itself. Unpacking who invented the medical model reveals a narrative not of a singular creation, but of a conceptual framework that evolved over centuries.