A key critique of Parsons' model is that doctors as gatekeepers...

• A. It reinforces the moral authority of patients.
• B. It ensures universal agreement on who is sick.
• C. It centralizes power with the government.
• D. It risks prioritizing physicians' judgments over patient circumstances.

Answer: (D)

Gatekeeping in Parsons’ framework means physicians decide who is legitimately ill and when the patient can resume normal social roles. A key critique is that this setup concentrates authority in doctors and places their clinical judgments above the patient’s own circumstances. Because the physician’s assessment can determine not only treatment but whether someone is even considered sick, patient context—like work needs, cultural beliefs, and personal preferences—can be sidelined. This creates a paternalistic dynamic where professional authority may override individual lived experience. It’s not about patient moral authority, universal agreement on illness, or government control; it’s about the potential for physician judgment to dominate how illness is defined and managed.