The Intrusion of the Discourse of Economics Into the Clinical Space I: From Patient to Consumer

Abstract

Objective: Terms from the corporate sector and its allied field of management have found their way into the clinical domain. This development is co-extensive with social changes and even modifications in the manner in which our patients present to clinical services. To date there has been little discussion of such developments in the psychiatric literature. The movement from the use of the term ‘patient’ to that of ‘consumer’ will be examined as emblematic of a modification of the clinical relationship.

Conclusions: The use of terms from economics has widely permeated our society. In an increasingly consumer-oriented society, the survey has become a study methodology of choice. Indeed, within psychiatry we have attempted to resolve the question of what to call our patients through surveys. There has been little discussion regarding the permeation of the language of economics in the clinical field and thus critiques of this process have arisen from other domains. It is argued that such changes have eroded the traditional clinical relationship of the psychiatrist and patient.