Ethical Substance/Tense:
Povinelli’s use of the concept ethical substances by explaining that the body’s material
becomes part of the moral reflection. Within this comic we can also acknowledge the forms of
tense that include social belonging and abandonment. When interpreting the ethical substance
there are two positions that you can take part in. You can either be acting on it or defining it.
Relating it to the doctor-patient relationship, ethical substances can be seen in the process of the
evaluation of a patient. The doctors have the knowledge and the materials to bring it to their
practice in order to properly diagnose a patient. When the patient is given their results on the
diagnosis it is usually explained with medical terminology. A type of language that is
complicated if you are not familiar with it. Patients are automatically at a disadvantage because
they don’t understand what they are being told. They may also not have access to the material
(supplies) in order to treat their illness. This causes ‘blame and responsibility’ to be shifted to the
patient. The patient feels the abandonment because they are not being supported or as Povinelli
would say ‘they are not seen as part of the body’. This causes an effect on the patient’s health by
the misunderstandings and gaps in their relationship.
The social belonging of a patient and doctor is based on the social role that they fill. In
order for the patient to belong they must give into the medical gaze that diagnosis them and
isolates their self from their body, which includes their cultural beliefs. The social role of a
health practitioner is a powerful authority that dominates their relationship. The relationship
between the doctor and patient creates gaps during their conversations because of the power
difference that is transmitted.
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