Critical approach
The critical approach is essential in examining forms of medicine in our culture and viewing medicine in a cultural context and how a system of medicine has shaped a culture and how a culture has shaped the medical system. This approach studies a variety of things about a medical system including the history of the approach, the language of the approach and the rituals of the approach. The critical approach often uses dichotomies to compare and contrast various conditions allowing multiple angles to be examined. The critical approach is especially crucial in the anthropological of HIV since the treatment and perception of this illness have essentially been constantly changing since the initial outbreak. HIV has existed for some time, perhaps as long ago as the 1950's. Although AIDS has been prevalent since the early 1980's. Although many at one time believed HIV/AIDS to be a homosexual illness, that is not the case. In 1982 clinics such as the Gay Men's Health Crisis center were founded while the country still believed this to be primarily a homosexual male disease. I think it can be regarded as relatively true that due to the population initially infected by the disease (gay males) society did not move forward with treatment as fast as possible and research support and funding was unavailable. The greatest number of cases exist in Africa however AIDS is found all around the world. AIDs can be spread both by sexual factors and by blood transfer issues. The disease has gone through many major cultural perception changes over the last 20 years with treatment and discussion much more widely supported in modern society.
The first video that I've posted analysis a unique problem from the critical perception of HIV/AIDs in Africa. This video examines the price of HIV/AIDS drugs and how these treatments are too expensive for most people in Africa. It also goes into the economic effects on countries such as Uganda. The main drug being examined are the ARV (anti-retroviral drugs) and how a few drug companies have a monopoly on these drugs and are able to charge whatever pricing they see fit. The video examines the politics and economics of producing generic priced retroviral drugs. The video also looks at how the drug prices have already been driven down yet still need to be much cheaper for the average citizen. This is an interesting critical look at the issues of biomedical control of the viral treatment. The approach is also evident in the business model of the pharmaceutical companies. Something must change for biomedical HIV/AIDS treatment to become a reality.
The second video I've posted is a PBS overview of a documentary about the gay population in San Francisco during the 1980's. This video looks into the how society perceived the AIDs epidemic during that time frame. The video discusses the lack of care and compassion exhibited by mainstream America during the initial epidemic affecting the gay community. It is important for us to consider how the political and religious feelings towards the AID's epidemic has fueled public perception, biomedicalization, and treatment options.
Bibliography
"HIV/AIDS Basics," United States Department of Health & Human Services, accessed July 9, 2013, http:/ /aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/
"Paying the Price," tvelinspiringChange, YouTube video, June 6, 2012, http://www.youtube.com/watch ?v=vZIrnwAAzmQ
"We Were Here' Revisits San Francisco's 80's AIDs Epidemic," PBSNewsHour, June 14, 2012, http://w ww.youtube.com/watch?v=ULrqL_aYoW0
"Image: New HIV infections, San Francisco" Michael Petrelis, January 2007, mpetrelis.blogspot.com
"HIV/AIDS Basics," United States Department of Health & Human Services, accessed July 9, 2013, http:/ /aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/
"Paying the Price," tvelinspiringChange, YouTube video, June 6, 2012, http://www.youtube.com/watch ?v=vZIrnwAAzmQ
"We Were Here' Revisits San Francisco's 80's AIDs Epidemic," PBSNewsHour, June 14, 2012, http://w ww.youtube.com/watch?v=ULrqL_aYoW0
"Image: New HIV infections, San Francisco" Michael Petrelis, January 2007, mpetrelis.blogspot.com