Old age finally a disease? Controversy around the new International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Health Problems ICD-11
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18778/2300-1690.23.01Keywords:
ICD-11, old age, ageing, medicalization, health inequalitiesAbstract
During works over the new revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Health Problems ICD-11, biological aging has been proposed to be recognized as a disease. Although in the literature, biomedicalization of old age and aging was described much earlier (see Estes and Binney), but the decision about equating of biological aging with the state of disease and its official legitimization in the ICD seems to have serious outcomes for the perception of the end stage of human life. The idea of the ultimate medicalization of old age and aging has found supporters and opponents. The aim of the article is an analysis of discussion conducted in scientific journals as well as in the media space based on the reconstruction of standpoints and arguments used by supporters and opponents of biomedicalization of old age. Supporters of medicalization of old age and aging pointed on real benefits from recognition of biological aging as a disease (effective distributions of medications, insurance policies allowing for cost coverage of the disease treatment). Opponents underlined ageistic attitudes of supporters as well as pointed on such consequences as further exclusion of older adults from social life and health services and health inequalities in aging societies. Realization of the above aim will enable also to indicate multidimensional consequences of medicalization of biological aging.
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