Which view best describes the Western biomedical model?

• A. It attributes disease to supernatural forces
• B. It attributes disease to microorganisms, diseased cells, and aging
• C. It attributes disease to fate
• D. It attributes disease to karma

Answer: (B)

The central idea here is that disease is understood through biological causes that can be seen and measured in the body. The Western biomedical model explains illness in terms of tangible processes: microorganisms like bacteria and viruses can cause infection, cellular changes such as cancer or tissue damage disrupt normal function, and aging brings biological changes that increase vulnerability to disease. This approach relies on scientific evidence, diagnostic tests, and targeted treatments (drugs, vaccines, surgery) that address these biological factors. Other explanations—such as supernatural forces, fate, or karma—lie outside the biological framework and are not how the biomedical model interprets disease. So the description that fits best is disease caused by microorganisms, diseased cells, and aging.