Sociology of Health: History and Impact of Allopathic Doctors in Canadian Medical System

This essay explores the history of medicine profession in Canada and the efforts undertaken by allopathic doctors to enhance the medical system. It discusses the sociological theories of medicine profession, the development of healthcare institutions in Canada, and the role of allopathic medicine in modern healthcare. The essay also highlights the collaboration between the government and medical practitioners in the establishment of universal healthcare in Canada.

Running head: HEALTHCARE
Sociology of health
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Introduction- Medicine can be defined as the practice and science of confirming
diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and prognosis of a particular disease, and encompasses a
plethora of healthcare practices for restoring health of patients. Contemporary medicine includes
biomedical research genetics, medical technology, and biomedical sciences, for diagnosing,
treating, and preventing, any disease or injury, generally through the administration of
pharmaceuticals and/or surgery (Watson, 2017). In addition, the profession also encompasses
biologics, medical devices, ionizing radiation, psychotherapy, and external splint. The concept of
hospitals and institutions that offered medical care and cure to patients emerged during the
middle age, based on ideas and principles of Christian charity. However, a major shift in this
domain occurred during the 14th and 15th century, in relation to the Black Death that is
commonly referred to as an approach of traditional authority to medicine and science (Dols,
2019).
Thesis statement- This essay will elaborate on the history of medical profession in
Canada and how organising efforts undertaken by allopathic doctors have enhanced the medical
system.
The profession medicine- Taking into consideration the fact that medicine is a profession,
there are different views on the concept of professionalization that can be elaborated in the form
of diverse sociological theories. According to Ackroyd (2016) the ‘trait approach’ medicine
profession is viewed as an occupation that has a set of attributes in common, which differentiates
it from varied non-professional occupations. Hence, the trait approach considers medicine
profession on the basis of a systematic theory, whereby it is recognised by the client and helps in
determining the preferences and needs of the client. In addition, approval by the society and
those who are involved in the profession provides an authority position (Clarke, 2004). This is in

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contrast with the ‘functionalist approach’ that focuses on the interaction between medicine and
the society. It is assumed that medicine professionals are in position of great knowledge that is
important to the society (Khalili, Hall & DeLuca, 2014). Hence, with the aim of preventing
abuse to the knowledge, medicine must be able to meet a set of structural requirements that are in
favour of the individual patients, and the wider community. The physicians are controlled by
different organisations and committees that primarily encompass practicing doctors who should
follow the code of ethics, while incorporating its norms in their profession.
On the other hand, the ‘power analysis approach’ illustrates that professionalization
processes are associated to development and enhancement in other occupation, as well as to the
reaction of government (Ghadirian, Salsali & Cheraghi, 2014). Hence, there is some model
division of labour that helps in construction of reality. Three types of institutionalized control
have been identified by Johnson, in relation to medicine profession namely patronage, collegiate
control and mediation (Clarke, 2004). Therefore, sanctioning and acknowledgement of the
medicine occupation, helps to acquire autonomy, with regards to recruitment and self-regulation.
History in Canada- Physicians play an essential role in the provision of delivery of
healthcare services in Canada, and are primarily responsible for maintenance, promotion, and
restoration of patient health, through diagnosis, prognosis, study, and treatment of injury, disease
and other types of impairment. Traditional medicine in Canada was mainly practiced by spiritual
healers and leaders who focused on different physical and botanical remedies for treating the
native Aboriginals, of several illnesses and injuries (Gale, 2014). Early Canadian medical
organisations also developed with the aim of treating the widespread prevalence of epidemics
such as, measles, scarlet fever, influenza, cholera and smallpox that was commonly found in the
early settlers who arrived at Canada (Clarke, 2004). Cholera reached Canada during 1832 from

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immigrants who had relocated from Britain, and was responsible for the death of an estimated
20,000 people (Cameron, 2014). There was lack of sufficient knowledge regarding the factors
that led to the disease and its possible transmission. This resulted in the opening of Grosse Île
near Quebec, in the form of a quarantine station for inspecting all people against this disease.
This eventually resulted in an anti-government agitation in 1830 in Lower Canada, thus paving
the way for modern medicinal facilities.
According to Van Rooyen et al. (2015) the history of modern medicine in Canada dates
back to the 18th century, where the poor were primarily provided care in hospitals. Several
charitable institutions were developed by the Catholic religious order in Quebec, followed by an
increase in the number of non-profitable hospitals that was run by religious denominations and
municipal government (Clarke, 2004). These organisations were provided subsidies from the
provincial government, with the aim of providing admission and treatment to all patients,
notwithstanding their financial capabilities. First medical schools were developed in 1827 in
Lower Canada, including the Montreal Medical Institution. This was soon followed by a
modification in the instruction of medical schools, with introduction of UFT and hands-on
approaches.
Allopathic practitioners and their early efforts- Allopathic medicine refers to a graduated
from that is commonly used by alternative medicine proponents, in order to denote modern
scientific medicine system that involves use of pharmacological agents, and/or physical
interventions, for suppressing pathophysiologic processes, and symptoms of a particular disease
(Clarke, 2004). Commonly referred to as western medicine or evidence-based medicine, the
practice dates back to early 18th century, in North America and Europe (Loeffler, 2017). During
the 18th century, European medicine demonstrated a gradual evolution into a scientific

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discipline, devoid of adequate scientific knowledge and theory. Most of the medical practitioners
who hailed from France did not receive adequate training as physicians, and demonstrated
theoretical limitations in delivering remedies. It was marked by limitations in surgical methods
as well, and internal operations generally resulted in death of the patient.
Allopathic doctors took efforts in passing a legislation that was aimed at prohibiting
allied medical practices in Canada. They also focused on the need for providing licences to
allopath that would allow them to practice freely, while requesting for the provision of controlled
admittance. This led to establishment of the Upper Canada Journal of Medical Surgical and
Physical Sciences, followed by announcement of homeopathy based on its opposition to science
(Clarke, 2004). In addition, the Flexner report also created a major impact on alternative and
complementary medicine during the 20th century, when it identified the need of American
medical schools to implement stringent admission and graduation standards, while showing strict
adherence to mainstream science protocol in research and training (Mullan, 2017). This made it
crucial for all allopathic practitioners in Canada to receive at least 6 years of post-secondary
formal education, while closely adhering to scientific methods of human biochemistry and
physiology (Quintero, 2014). The major benefit of this report can be associated with the
development of single medical education model in Canada that was characterized by the
philosophy of learning among physicians, who acted as social instruments.
Contemporary medicine status- The need for involving the government in healthcare was
first identified during the early 20th century that was also marked by the widespread popularity
of presence of a National Health Insurance system. There were widespread causes for the
presence of public health system during the Great Depression, whereby allopathic practitioners
also recognised the need of government involvement in providing stability to the medical

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community. This was followed by enactment of a bill related to provincial insurance
programming 1935, soon succeeded by passing of a health insurance bill in British Columbia
(Allin & Rudoler, 2014). Introduction of universal health coverage was first enforced during
1947 under circumstances when there was a shortage of doctors in Saskatchewan that resulted in
development of municipal doctor programs, where doctors were provided subsidies by a town to
practice at the particular location. The Saskatchewan Hospitalization Act was another major step
that provided free hospital care for majority of the population, soon followed by introduction of a
public health care plan by the social credit party, for providing prepaid healthcare services and
medical coverage to as much as 90% of the entire population (Clarke, 2004).
Success of the programs in the aforementioned regions resulted in introduction of the
Medical Care Act in 1966 (Martin et al., 2018). Association between the government and
medical practitioners facilitated establishment of Universal Healthcare Plan by every province,
which in turn lead to the development of the Medicare system. Prohibition of user fees was
fought the taken into consideration by the Canada Health Act that was passed in 1984, by the
Liberal Government (Coyte & McKeever, 2016). Therefore, close collaboration between the
government officials and the practitioners helped in formulation of a framework that displayed
commitment to universality, public administration, portability, comprehensiveness, and
accessibility of healthcare services to all citizens. In addition, it can be stated that the healthcare
system of Canada primarily relies on services of general practitioners and family, who act as
gatekeepers of the system, which includes hospital admission, specialty care, prescription drug,
and diagnostic testing (Clarke, 2004). Although segments of the Medicare plan pays for the
complete medical costs of a beneficiary, part A premium (Morgan et al., 2015), deductibles, and
group retirement insurances, are out of pocket expenses that need to be paid by the service users.

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Conclusion- The concept of medicine profession had been around for thousands of years,
during which it was typically considered to have an association to philosophical and religious
values and perceptions of local culture. The history of prehistoric medicine dates back to the time
when several materials such as, animal parts, plant parts, and minerals were used by spiritual
systems. Owing to the fact that Flexner report focused on the importance of centralisation and
revamping of medical institution, natural medicine and homeopathy were derided, followed by
the consolidation of several medical schools. Collaboration between the government and
practitioners helped in enforcement of the modern Medicare Act aimed towards reducing costs
that the patient had to pay for admission to hospice centres, medical services, prescription drugs,
and specific medical advantage plans. Thus, efforts undertaken by allopathic doctors have
enhanced the Canadian medical system.

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