Final answer:
According to Parsons, the sick role is a concept that describes the specific rights and responsibilities of a sick person. The individual who appears to have taken on the sick role in the given examples is the man with low back pain missing several physical therapy appointments.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Parsons, the sick role is a concept that describes the specific rights and responsibilities of a sick person. The sick person is exempt from normal social roles and obligations, and is not responsible for their condition. However, they have the responsibility to try to get well and seek help from a physician. In the given examples, the individual who appears to have taken on the sick role is the man with low back pain missing several physical therapy appointments. By not actively seeking treatment, he is fulfilling the responsibilities of someone in the sick role.