Medical Sociology - Assignment Example

Medical practitioners and Doctors are said to be catalyst of health care and advancers when it comes to the issue of taking care of one's health. In this regard, they are expected to be the living proof of taking care of one's health. People expects them to refrain from smoking, alcoholism and other related vices since their advocacy must deal with prolonging and betterment of one's health. However, it is still evident that some of the medical doctors and practitioners including health care workers are entangled with alcoholism, being addicted to it, and worst, being drunk while practicing medicine. In this case, it is evident that these people (medical practitioners) seem to neglect or does not practice what they preach. Moreover, if they are practicing medicine while being drunk or under the influence of alcohol, the said practice will more likely endanger not only themselves but the patients and the people that they attend to. In this case, one might ask and wonder, "if the Doctors know the negative implications of alcoholism to one's health, why is it that some of them tend to become addicted to it" This kind of problem raised concerns and alarmed the bell with regards to the people who are being affected by these kinds of irregularities. There are cases and instances that their family (of Doctors who are under the influence of alcoholism), the patients and the people who are in need of their personal and medical attention are being affected by this kind of irregularity. In this case, such practitioners are being classified as a "group" with regards to their profession. In this regard, they are being classified as a group because they represent a certain portion of medical doctors and practitioners which are considered as the "Alcohol-dependent" ones. In this case, this kind of group creates a distinction to one's profession. Of course, one can never conclude that the entire practitioners do the same thing that is why they are considered as group. In dealing with this, obtaining a percentage from a group as a point of study is needed to further understand why such things happen and why such a phenomenon occurs. Of course, it is an established fact, that like anyone, medical practitioners are still human and still is susceptible to addiction. If there are individuals or medical practitioners who are being classified under the addiction of alcoholism, then they form a sociological distinction among their macro group as a whole. If they form a sociological distinction, then they have similarities with each other and in this case, the occurrence why such an addiction has started on their physiological and psychological system and why such addiction is still present do share common determinants. In dealing with this, it is very important to know the factors on why these kind of dependence occur. In order to be guided with this topic, mapping different situations, factors and other related elements are important in order to know and determine the factors and norms why a certain group has a smaller group which practices things that are in contrary to what they are advancing. In knowing and determining such things, dealing with different factors as a consideration is an important thing to do, in order to track down and determine the issues revolving alcoholism in medical practice. Among the controversial factors that are being considered by different experts is the theory of having this kind of problem in medical practice, according to some experts has something to do with genetics. In this case, if genetics has been the issue, then the main concern here is the genealogy of the individual is the reason why he experience such a thing and not because of the profession a certain individual is practicing. Goldman (1999) further added that "The genetic evidence base for alcohol policy includes the genetic epidemiology of this clinically-defined disorder as well as an emerging understanding of the role of specific genes and gene/environment interactions. Although alcoholism and alcohol use are common phenotypes which are heterogeneous in their origins, their heritabilities are substantial. Surprisingly, a substantial portion of the genetic variance in alcoholism risk is substance-specific rather than being attributable to a shared diathesis of vulnerability to substances. The evidence for substance-specificity in alcoholism is also compatible with the functions of the genes which have so far been confirmed as having a role in inheritance of this disorder. In certain Asian populations, the aldehyde dehydrogenase2 (ALDH2) and alcohol dehydrogenase2 (ADH2) enzymes have common functional polymorphisms leading to an excess of acetaldehyde after consumption of ethanol. Acetaldehyde is toxic and aversive, discouraging alcohol intake. In particular ALDH2 Glu487/Lys487 heterozygotes - about half of Japanese- have substantially reduced vulnerability, and no Lys487/Lys/487 homozygote has yet been found to be alcoholic." In the latter part of his abstract, he further added that "The sieving of the genome has also detected several putative candidate genes and loci which may represent genes for vulnerability shared across substances. An empirical understanding of the genetic bases of alcoholism and other behaviours is still in infancy. However, the abundances of genetic variants, their modes of action, and their applications in treatment and prevention are of profound importance because appropriate approaches to alcohol will ultimately be science-based" In considering that genes has something to do with alcoholism, then it is established that regardless of the profession one handles, the thing that influence a certain person to be dependent in such a thing is not on the duties and responsibilities he is practicing but rather on the basis of where he comes from. Although there are still intensive studies and experiments that are being done in order to determine the relationship between genes and alcoholism, there are several proofs and factors that are being considered as the reason why a certain individual is being under the influence of alcohol. In other words, if there are medical practitioners who are being classified as under the influence of alcoholism, there is a huge probability that such cravings for alcohol has been in their system since birth, prior to their medical practice. In this case, if alcoholism happens, then they are being classified as practitioners under the influence of alcohol, but this thing must not be looked that the practitioner developed such dependence not because he is a doctor but rather, it has been in their system long time ago. In dealing with genetics and heredity as a culprit for the people specially the medical practitioners to produce and develop alcoholism within their system, Ball (1999) further stated that "Recent advances in molecular genetics have increased our knowledge of the hereditary material to such a level that it is now possible to look for the genes that contribute to alcoholism. Throughout the world the concerted effort by scientists affiliated to the Human Genome Mapping Project is rapidly determining the sequence of the 23 volumes of hereditary information, the chromosomes, that is the human genome. It is estimated that a first draft of this genetic encyclopaedia will be available in the spring of 2000, which will contain some 100,000 gene entries. Subsequently the 'typographical' errors that constitute genetic variation and mutation will be identified and as a consequence the multiple small genetic contributions to common and complex diseases elucidated. These findings will affect our lives and have a profound impact upon subsequent generations. Genes and environment interact during the development of alcohol dependenceFinding the genetic contributions will profoundly alter the way we understand this condition and will permit the introduction of improved management policies. New treatments will be developed and targeted to subgroups identified by genetic tests. It will also be possible to develop genetic tests that alter an individual predicted risk which could be used for counseling, screening and prevention programmers" If this is the case wherein experts deem genetics as one of the factors, then it is logical to conclude that genes has something to do with the development of alcoholism within a certain individual and this will further bring us into syllogism that a doctor who has a drunkard and alcoholic father has a great probability to develop the same. However, unlike illegal drugs, liquors and alcohol are legal substances which can be taken by anybody. Therefore, doctors have their rights by all means to conduct and take such substances whatever time they wanted. In this particular, it also can be credited that doctors are advancing health care practices and it is illogical to preach or advance something in which one cannot apply by him. In this case, ethics is the focal point of the argument; therefore, if ethics has something to do with the subject, then the Doctors who are dependent with alcohol abuse lessen their credibility towards their patients. In this case, people and patients might think that how can they be treated by someone who is also sick Majority of the experts agree that alcoholism is a sickness that anybody could acquire. The website Medicinenet.com (2007) defined alcoholism as "Physical dependence on alcohol to the extent that stopping alcohol use will bring on withdrawal symptoms. In popular and therapeutic parlance, the term may also be used to refer to ingrained drinking habits that cause health or social problems. Treatment requires first ending the physical dependence, then making lifestyle changes that help the individual avoid relapse. In some cases, medication or hospitalization is needed. Alcohol dependence can have many serious effects on the brain, liver, and other organs of the body" In this case, if physical evidence that a person manifest in which he craves for something, then it is a clear indication that certain person is sick. In other word, if a doctor is alcoholic dependent, then the conclusion that certain doctor is sick can be established. If we are to further deal with this, one might conclude that this kind of occurrence would more likely develop a culture for doctors per se, and if not being looked upon would later develop a niche for the doctors distinction as a whole and this really is a concern for everybody. If the credibility of the Doctors and medical practitioners would be lost, with whom will the sick people cling into Therefore, one must consider, especially practitioners that they have moral and ethical obligations towards their patients and into the public in general. In UK several doctors where also found out that they are either drug or alcohol dependent based on the stress that they face in line with their jobs. Buddy T (2003) further conclude that "Overworked physicians in U.K. National Health Service hospitals report facing stress, depression, physical assault, alcoholism or drug addiction because of their jobs and only 23 percent of them plan to stay until retirement." The alcoholism concerning the medical practitioners must be properly addressed in order to prevent the mental and sociological state of the physicians to deteriorate and further lost their credibility to the people who are dependent to their expertise. After all the website aboutalcohol.us (2007) implies "Alcoholism is a relatively common disease although it is not normally talked about. Many people still believe, despite contrary evidence, that alcoholism is a disease that only the "man on skid row" suffers from. In reality, alcoholism does not discriminate; it affects people of all ages, backgrounds, races and classes. Having alcoholism does not mean that a person is morally weak, but rather that he/she has lost the power of choice in regards to alcohol. The initial symptoms of alcoholism can begin manifesting in early adolescent years and because alcoholism is a progressive disease, the symptoms only get worse..." Reference: 1) Goldman D. (4-5 November 1999) Genetic research in alcohol dependence. "From Biology to Sociology: Evidence base and implementation strategies for alcohol, drugs and tobacco policies" [online] available from http://www.addiction-ssa.org/speakers99.htm 2) Ball D. (4-5 November1999) What does the Human Genome Mapping Project have to offer alcoholics "From Biology to Sociology: Evidence base and implementation strategies for alcohol, drugs and tobacco policies" [online] available from http://www.addiction-ssa.org/speakers99.htm 3) Medicinenet.com (2007). Definition of Alcoholism [online] available from http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asparticlekey=10929 < April 28, 2007> 4) Buddy T (8 Aug 2003) Stressed U.K. Doctors Turn to Drugs, Alcohol. [Online] available from http://alcoholism.about.com/b/a/016143.htmterms=national+health+service+nhs 5) aboutalcohol.us (2007). Alcoholism. [online] http://www.aboutalcohol.us/alcoholism.htm Read More