The treatment of the body as a tiling separate from the social self is made the object of inquiry. The implications of this separation are explored as follows: (1) The failure on the part of the medical profession to treat differences in morbidity and mortality rates due to social class, occupation and environment as an object of medical concern; (2) Domination by the medical profession, subordination of the patient and a corresponding sense of entitlement on the part of one and vulnerability on the part of the other; (3) The control of medical knowledge by the profession for its own interests which do not always correspond to the patient's interests; (4) The failure to communicate successfully with patients; (5) The intentional avoidance of informing patients about the nature of or prognosis for their illness; (6) Exploitation of the patient by the medical profession (e.g. unnecessary surgery); (7) The difference in the quality of care and attitudes toward patients according to social or imputed moral differences among patients; (8) The loss of autonomy arid dignity on the part of the patient. This state of affairs is analysed in terms of the definition of the physician as curer, the treatment of medical knowledge as private property, and the context of a market economy.