SOC309Y1 Lecture Notes - Retrovirus, Critical Role, Human T-Lymphotropic Virus
Document Summary
Changing perceptions about what causes disease the nature of risk, behaviour and responsibility reflect powerful moral beliefs. These beliefs, in turn, affect patterns of social behaviour and the organization of health care. During the 19th century medical theories stated the hereditary qualities of susceptibility to particular diseases. Late 19th century germ theory emerged a single pathogen was invariably associated with a specific disease, this organism could be isolated and grown and used to reproduce the disease. Researchers realized it was possible for individuals to be infected but remain free of disease. Thus, there was a focus on the organism as the cause of the disease and the social environment was diminished. However, germ theory was found to be lacking later on as infectious diseases declined. Thus the material conditions of life sanitation, nutrition etc. became more important in patterns of infection. The bacteriological revolution had the effect of depersonalizing disease.
