Title: The Western 'seal of approval': advanced liberalism and technologies of governing in medical travel to India

Authors: Nishant Bagadia

Addresses: BIOS Centre, London School of Economics, Room V1100, Tower 2, 11th floor, Houghton Street, London WC2A 2AE, UK

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).

Keywords: medical travel; advanced liberalism; neo-liberalism; governance; Western standards; Joint Commission International; India; accreditation; medical migration; transnational medicine; governing technologies; USA; United States; patients; patient care; internalisation; common languages; risks; surgery; qualitative grounded theory; ethnographic methods; ethnography; marketing media; government policies; field observations; agents; international hospitals; expertise; technological zones; JCI accreditations; self-regulation; healthcare workers; behavioural research; healthcare research; medical tourism.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBHR.2010.037082

International Journal of Behavioural and Healthcare Research, 2010 Vol.2 No.1, pp.85 - 110

Published online: 23 Nov 2010 *

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