HIV/AIDS were seen by many as occupying an illegitimate sick role. But after
two decades and serious political campaigning, most people now see those with
HIV as occupying an unconditionally legitimate sick role.The example of HIV illustrates some limitations of this theory. What happens
when the sick person believes he or she is legitimately ill, but others do not? What
happens when those who don’t think you are sick include your family, your boss, or
your medical insurer? What happens when doctors and patients disagree? How do
the general cultural values informing health care figure in? Can the sick role actually
empower some patients to take on their doctors and treatment options? The sick role
assumes that all members of a society agree, and obviously this is not always the case
(Shilling, 2002; Stiggelbout and Kiebert, 1997; Von Ornsteiner, 2000).538 CHAPTER 16THE BODY AND SOCIETY: HEALTH AND ILLNESS200,000–250,0000–50,000
50,000–100,000
100,000–150,000
150,000–200,000250,000–300,000
300,000–350,000
No dataFIGURE 16.3 Tuberculosis Deaths in
TABLE 16.3
International Ranking of Health Care Quality: Selected Dimensions
AUSTRALIA CANADA GERMANY NEWZEALAND UNITED KINGDOM UNITED STATES
Overall 4 5 1 2 3 6
Patient safety 4 5 2 3 1 6
Patient-centeredness 3 5 1 2 4 6
Timeliness 4 6 1 2 5 3
Equity 2 4 5 3 1 6Note:1 = highest ranking, 6 = lowest ranking.
Source:Adapted from Frogner Anderson, 2006.Source:“Tuberculosis Deaths in 2005” from The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, http://www.globalhealthfacts.org., 2007. Reprinted with permission.