Medical model of disability

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The medical model of disability, or medical model, is based in a biomedical perception of disability. This model links a disability diagnosis to an individual's physical body. The model supposes that a disability may reduce the individual's quality of life and aims to correct or diminish the disability with medical intervention.^[1] It is often contrasted with the social model of disability.

The medical model focuses on curing or managing illness or disability. By extension, the medical model supposes a compassionate or just society invests resources in health care and related services in an attempt to cure or manage disabilities medically. This is in an aim to expand or improve functioning, and to allow disabled people to lead a more "normal" life. The medical profession's responsibility and potential in this area is seen as central.