Multiple visions or multiple aversions? Consumer representation, consultation and participation in maternity issues
- 1 January 2000
- journal article
- Published by Informa UK Limited in Annual Review of Health Social Science
- Vol. 10 (1), 43-52
- https://doi.org/10.5172/hesr.2000.10.1.43
Abstract
This paper reviews the Commonwealth government’s policy of ‘purposeful reporting to consumers’. I argue that the notion of consumer participation is under-developed. Consumers’ needs will not be fully met by confining consumer representation at the administrative level; that is, in assuming that consumer advocates may speak for other consumers of health care services. The partnership objective at the heart of ‘purposeful reporting’ may be addressed fully only when practitioners and providers recognise the reciprocal expertise of the consumer in defining their own health priorities. This would require a new model of knowledge, of ethics and of the clinical encounter. The problem is not one of information deficit but of contrasting views of knowledge.Keywords
This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit:
- Bodies and subjects:Published by JSTOR ,1995