Death and dying historically and geographically is varied, and over the years has changed unquestionably. In 1955 the average life expectancy globally was 48 years of age. By 2025 this life expectancy is expected to rise to 73 years old, with no country having a life expectancy of below 50 years old. (WHO, 2016). Despite this rise, between the years 1975-1995 other countries faced a decline in life expectancy. An example of this is the Russian Federation, falling from 64 to 57 years old. This was said to be due to a falling public services provision. (WHO, 1998). Death occurs as part of normal family life, Illich suggests that the medical profession has modernised death.
Within Illich’s work on his critique of medicalisation he discussed the impact in which medicalisation has had on the process of dying within modern culture. Illich stated that “Modern medicine has brought the epoch of natural death to an end” (Illich, 1975). He also claimed that within western society, people must die from some specific medical condition’s such as pneumonia and HIV rather than natural causes such as old age (Sociology and Health 2001). When a person die’s, they lose all social standing, they become a non-person waiting to die. David Sudnow (1967) observed medical staff in the USA dealing with dead patients and seeing the inequalities associated with death and dying such as treating a young person for their medical condition rather than the older with the same medical condition. Also, Sudnow’s analysis immediately showed deviance, amongst people with alcoholism, opiate addiction, sex worker, who had been admitted to a public hospital, was automatically seen as socially inferior, unlike individuals who have private healthcare. (Sociology and Health 2001). Clark (2002) discussed the changes within death and the issue surrounding how people today are experiencing ‘slow dying’ rather than ‘quick dying’. This is most evident within care for the terminally ill and their families, provided by an organisational health service; also known as palliative care. (Clark, 2002). It may be said that death is demythologised within society, making it out to be ‘invisible’. Within society it has returned to being feared, as it is continuing to be something which is not talked about. (Aries, 1983). This is mainly due to the perspective of death within society. Walter (1996) discussed different perspectives of death within society which are seen to be most dominant. (Walter, 1996) discussed perspectives within modern, post-modern and traditional societies. Modern societies are said to hold the perspective of medical dominance whereas post-modern lays more emphasis upon the individual and psychology. This varies in comparison to traditional societies in which religion held the most dominance. (Walter, 1996). Not only has death became increasingly medicalised, as discussed by Illich (1975), grief has also. This has emerged within psychiatry, with psychiatrists labelling categories of ‘normal’ and ‘abnormal’ grief. This has moved from communities previously defining this. Bereavement is continuously being treat as an illness, with it being considered to be a “deviation from ‘normal’ paths of behaviour. (Littlewood, 1993).
Illich (1977), also criticizes the modern of dying. He believes that modern attitudes, concerning the medicalisation of death are primitive. An example of this “ The witch hunt that was traditional at the death of a tribal chief is being modernised. For every premature or clinically unnessacery death, somebody or something can be found who irresponsibly delayed or prevented a medical intervention.
By Beth Rowe and Kelly Debnam
''Evaluate Illich's (1976) notion of 'medical imperialism' - what is his theory about and to what extent is it accurate today?'' 