[Risk discourse in Hormone Replacement Therapy].
The medical world has used Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) on menopausal women for over 70 years, but controversy surrounding the treatment remains. Findings reported by the NIH, U.S.A. in July 2002 indicated that HRT might cause cardiovascular and cancer risks, and resulted in serious concern among menopausal women using HRT in Taiwan. One after the other, members of the medical profession in Taiwan have argued that the medicine used in the research was different (from that used in Taiwan) and that the constitutions of western women are different from those of Taiwanese women, attempting to limit the negative impact of this research. HRT is one of the most widely used, but also one of the most controversial of medical technologies. The technico-scientific and sociocultural perspectives are two major approaches to the conceptualization of risk in relation to technology. Based on cognitive science, the technico-scientific discourse of risk emphasizes human forecasting of harmful events and scientific measures for preventing risk. The sociocultural perspective emphasizes that the risk is socially constructed and applies to control deviance. In addition, surveillance and regulated measures are applied to high-risk populations, as normalizing technology with moral implications. This paper suggests that health care professionals examine how HRT users interpret the meanings of risk. Reflection on the process and criteria for identifying high-risk populations is also suggested. Partnership with and empowerment of HRT users is advocated in preference to the use of regulating and normalizing measures.
Institute of Community Health Nursing, National Yang-Ming University. zylu@ym.edu.tw
Zxy-Yann Jane
ZY
Lu
Hai-Chiao
HC
Chen
Yueh-Ching
YC
Juan
D030881:Disclosure; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D012306:Risk