Looking at Media on the Subject
In a medical debate, looking to media coverage for information may seem skeptical. However, for the average citizen, it may be the most readily accessbile method of obtaining information that has been sifted through and interpreted. While media literacy and questioning of facts presented is a good tool to use when reading and watching reports on medical updates and studies, it is also the most common layman. In this way, news reports on scientific studies are useful to average citizens in understanding what is going on in realms outside of their typical knowledge.
Issues discussed:
While some insurance companies cover mammography screening, MRI screening for patients with family history are not covered. Mammography has been proven effective for most women, but may not be the best procedure when compared to MRI screening for patients with a higher risk. Key idea: Insurance provision and coverage of mammography technology in relationship to cancer history Rhetorical impact: The appeal to ethos here is the credibility of the woman discussing the issue of insurance coverage as related to mammograms and patient history with breast cancer. She is an M.D. and director of the Cooper Cancer Institute. Considering her background, she is a credible source. Her appeal to logos in the discussion is simply that if insurance is going to cover medical tests and procedures, mammograms should be included. Beyond that, with patient history indicative of proclivity to breast cancer development, all tests and procedures associated with prevention of the disease should be covered. |
Issues discussed:
Three-dimensional mammography is making its way into the field and is expected to improve the statistics related to breast cancer diagnosis. It is mentioned that false positives and negatives should decline with the inclusion, use and development of this technology; doctors expect to be able to detect breast cancer at its earliest stage. Key idea: Technology improvements will allow medical researchers and practitioners to continue detecting breast cancer in its early stages with expected statistical improvements Rhetorical impact: Progress is key in the argument presented. By improving technology, scientists can improve the way cancer is detected, which will improve the lives of women who were doomed to develop breast cancer. There is an appeal to logos and pathos present: for logos, the drive for improvement (and perfection) means vamping up our technology; for pathos, the potential of further decreasing the impact of breast cancer through earlier detection means fewer deaths, a positive emotional appeal. |
Issues discussed:
Annual mammograms are not necessary according to a new study published by the USPSTF. The call for insurance coverage of annual mammogram screenings became a roar despite the findings. The news report indicates a significant leap in coverage of the topic during this tumultuous time. Key idea: Media coverage can act as the layman between scientific findings, government decisions and the call of the people Rhetorical impact: By covering this issues, the news report engaged itself in the conversation and added new interpretations of the information being disseminated. This provides a new context for the topic and opens the door between civilian and scientific life. It adds a humanistic aspect by focusing on the impacts decisions made based on medical findings have on government decisions. This is significant because it reveals the connection between science and social movements such as advocacy campaigns. |
October: A whole month devoted to awareness and mammogram advocacy
Advocacy and campaigns act as another medium through which layman information can be found. Because the general goal of advocacy is to promote understanding, the terminology used - though potentially skewed to serve the purpose of achieving the goals of the campaign - is generally simplified and easier to grasp, just as the news layman reports the same studies.
Walks, talks and tales. The impact medical conditions have on the scientific debate.
In recent decades, advocacy has been a key element of garnering social attention for medical diseases. In the context of breast cancer, breast cancer prevention and breast cancer early detection, the pink ribbon has become a symbol of strength and remembrance. The Susan G. Komen Advocacy Alliance has been a longtime supporter of mammogram screenings and continues to fight for their inclusion and promotion in both the public and private spheres. Their mission statement offers insight to why this is a topic of controversy:
"The Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Advocacy Alliance takes a stand on issues of importance to cancer survivors, advocates, and others involved in the movement. Primarily, our positions relate to breast cancer research, early detection, and access to high-quality care. From time to time, we may also comment on other health-related topics and sign onto letters published by other organizations, which we feel may have an impact on the breast cancer community" (Susan G. Komen).
Rhetorically, the values system presented is in the lines of humanism - the alliance emphasizes the role of people in their movement and represents the purpose for which they advocate their positions. They clearly identify cancer survivors and advocates as crucial to the identified issues of research, care and early detection. This speaks to the medical research published because it is in those studies that the foundation can support its arguments and inform its followers. Performative rhetoric is also noted to take place. The simple establishment of a website puts breast cancer and its relationship to mammograms on the map. By including their stance, visitors of the site are opened to a new perspective. This works rhetorically to expand the conversation surrounding mammograms from doctors and researchers to average citizens and laymen.
Walks that are hosted also shed light on the perspective of supporting mammograms because they are large movements. Organized events can attract media attention, which acts as the laymen between both the scientific and humanist side, allowing the controversy to be flushed out for those not directly involved in the research, the advocacy or the controversy itself. These events also open the forum for personal stories to be laid out - a strong appeal to pathos for those in support of mammogram screening, particularly with regards to early detection. Using a humanist example to explain supportive research in non-medical or statistical terms broadens the potential audience to which the argument can be made. Thus, it is to the benefit of the pro-mammogram rhetors to utilize mobilized events to advocate their positions while using scientific data as evidence. Here it is clear that scientific research plays a role in shaping social understanding of issues once thought to be only in the realm of science. While rationalistic in its purpose and approach, it serves a humanistic function.
In recent decades, advocacy has been a key element of garnering social attention for medical diseases. In the context of breast cancer, breast cancer prevention and breast cancer early detection, the pink ribbon has become a symbol of strength and remembrance. The Susan G. Komen Advocacy Alliance has been a longtime supporter of mammogram screenings and continues to fight for their inclusion and promotion in both the public and private spheres. Their mission statement offers insight to why this is a topic of controversy:
"The Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Advocacy Alliance takes a stand on issues of importance to cancer survivors, advocates, and others involved in the movement. Primarily, our positions relate to breast cancer research, early detection, and access to high-quality care. From time to time, we may also comment on other health-related topics and sign onto letters published by other organizations, which we feel may have an impact on the breast cancer community" (Susan G. Komen).
Rhetorically, the values system presented is in the lines of humanism - the alliance emphasizes the role of people in their movement and represents the purpose for which they advocate their positions. They clearly identify cancer survivors and advocates as crucial to the identified issues of research, care and early detection. This speaks to the medical research published because it is in those studies that the foundation can support its arguments and inform its followers. Performative rhetoric is also noted to take place. The simple establishment of a website puts breast cancer and its relationship to mammograms on the map. By including their stance, visitors of the site are opened to a new perspective. This works rhetorically to expand the conversation surrounding mammograms from doctors and researchers to average citizens and laymen.
Walks that are hosted also shed light on the perspective of supporting mammograms because they are large movements. Organized events can attract media attention, which acts as the laymen between both the scientific and humanist side, allowing the controversy to be flushed out for those not directly involved in the research, the advocacy or the controversy itself. These events also open the forum for personal stories to be laid out - a strong appeal to pathos for those in support of mammogram screening, particularly with regards to early detection. Using a humanist example to explain supportive research in non-medical or statistical terms broadens the potential audience to which the argument can be made. Thus, it is to the benefit of the pro-mammogram rhetors to utilize mobilized events to advocate their positions while using scientific data as evidence. Here it is clear that scientific research plays a role in shaping social understanding of issues once thought to be only in the realm of science. While rationalistic in its purpose and approach, it serves a humanistic function.