Question

A _____ view of health care is that good health and effective medical care are essential for the smooth functioning of society. Patients must be willing to perform the "sick role" in order to be perceived as legitimately ill and to be exempt from their normal obligations.

a) Symbolic Interactionist
b) Conflict
c) Functionalist
d) Feminist

Answer 1

The Functionalist perspective views health as crucial to societal functioning, with the 'sick role' allowing individuals temporary exemption from duties, provided their illness is legitimized by a physician.

Step-by-step explanation:

The view of health care that suggests that good health and effective medical care are essential for the smooth functioning of society, and that patients must perform the "sick role" to be exempt from their normal obligations, is the Functionalist perspective.

This perspective, developed by Talcott Parsons, indicates that sickness can be seen as a form of socially acceptable deviance that allows individuals to not fulfil normal societal roles, therefore it comes with certain rights and responsibilities. The sick person is not considered responsible for their illness, and they must try to get better, but this exemption from duties is temporary and must be legitimized by a physician.