Sick role
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Sick Role was a concept invented by Talcott Parsons in 1951. It is a term widely used in medical sociology. The theory outlined two rights of a sick person and two obligations:
Rights:
- The sick person is exempt from normal social roles
- The sick person is not responsible for their condition
Obligations:
- The sick person should try to get well
- The sick person should seek technically competent help and cooperate with the medical professional