The Western 'seal of approval': advanced liberalism and technologies of governing in medical travel to India
by Nishant Bagadia
International Journal of Behavioural and Healthcare Research (IJBHR), Vol. 2, No. 1, 2010

Abstract: Western institutions such as the US-based Joint Commission International (JCI) provide new forms of governance for US patients; in particular, to internalise a common language for the risks of medical care abroad and ease their decisions to travel to India for surgery. The researcher employs qualitative grounded theory and ethnographic methods to study complexities in the medical travel marketing media, government policies and field observations with agents at international hospitals. Using a theoretical framework involving technologies of governing, forms of expertise and 'technological zones' (Barry, 2001), the researcher outlines how JCI accreditations enable the self-regulation of patients and healthcare workers engaged in medical travel to India. Ultimately, the researcher concludes that JCI accreditations govern in an 'advanced liberal way' (Rose, 1996).

Online publication date: Tue, 23-Nov-2010

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Behavioural and Healthcare Research (IJBHR):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

Username:        Password:          Forgotten your password?

Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com