The World Health Organization states that health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity (Government of Canada, 2008). One definition of health that was published in the Lancet Journal, states that health in today’s world is directly impacted by our own adaptability to our surroundings. Health is not a fixed entity, and is based on our own personal functional needs (Lancet, 2009). Everyone’s circumstances have an impact on their version of their best possible health.
This statement stimulated some inner reflection. I often find myself not understanding some patient’s decisions in regards to their health in the hospital, thinking this their choice is not what I would want for myself or my family member., thinking that their choice is wrong, but is it really wrong ? Which means, that the definition of health is open to interpretation and we each have our own perspective on what it means to be healthy.
A modernized version of the definition of health now englobes patients living in certain situations that the WHO most likely did not believe were possible back in 1948. Advancements in science allows us to now live longer than ever before; and even live with certain conditions that we once would have deemed unhealthy (Nordenfelt,2007). Diabetes is no longer a death sentence, an amputee can go on to run a half marathon, more people than we can ever imagine are living full day to day lives with depression and anxiety. There is also gender gap in the definition of health (Yin, 2007). The definition of health allows varies from the Western world to a third world country (Nordenfelt,2007).
In summary, the World Health Organization definition of health from 1948 is now 75 years old in today is outdated, and not reflective of the modern-day definition of health for all persons across the world.
References
Government of Canada, 2018. Retrieved from:
Lancet. (2009). What is health? The ability to adapt. The Lancet, 373(9666), 781. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(09)60456-6
Nordenfelt, L. (2007). Understanding the concept of health. Department of Health Society, Linkoping University
Yin, S. (2007, November). Gender disparities in health and mortality http://www.prb.org/Publications/Articles/2007/genderdisparities.aspx
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