Costello2001

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Costello2001
BibType ARTICLE
Key Costello2001
Author(s) Brian A. Costello, Felicia Roberts
Title Medical recommendations as joint social practice
Editor(s)
Tag(s) EMCA, Medical EMCA, Medical recommendations, Conversation Analysis
Publisher
Year 2001
Language
City
Month
Journal Health Communication
Volume 13
Number 3
Pages 241-260
URL Link
DOI 10.1207/S15327027HC1303_2
ISBN
Organization
Institution
School
Type
Edition
Series
Howpublished
Book title
Chapter

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Abstract

Treatment plans can be thought of as one of the products of a medical interaction. As such, treatment for illness has been investigated as an outcome measure and seems to reflect bias in some areas of the practice of medicine. Although the evidence for patterns of differential treatment is compelling, determining the source of treatment bias has been difficult. Based on detailed analysis of transcripts of actual interactions in general medicine and oncology clinics, we propose that treatment plans are negotiated through everyday language practices that work to maximize agreement. We demonstrate that, on the level of individual medical encounters, patient agency is both apparent and operative and that physician power does not unilaterally determine outcomes. Thus, this investigation goes beyond the abstract study of physician and patient preferences or prejudices, focusing closely on the consequences of actual talk in settings where medical recommendations are being made.

Notes