Sociology of Health and Medicine 2018

The book is aimed at postgraduate students and anyone intending to conduct research in the sociology of health and medicine. The content and organisation of this book is intended to distinguish it from other textbooks on the sociology of medicine, while maintaining its anchorage in mainstream general sociology. The basic premise underpinning this book is that medical institutions are a public resource and not the private property of those who practice it. Among the main topics discussed are: approaches and concepts in health care; medical systems; doctor-patient relationships; the health care system; health inequality; health policy; health ethics and rights; reproductive rights; environment and health; health technology; and health insurance. Each section addresses a fundamental dimension of health and society, highlighting the dilemmas and contradictions in attempts to view medicine as a public resource. Throughout the document, the values, rights and ethical choices faced by users in the context of the structure of medicine are highlighted. In addition, reference is made to current trends and studies in the sociology of health and medicine, sustaining the developmental threads in the field of the last 40 years. The aim of this book is to present a content and format that will serve as a framework for further development of the topic. This volume discusses some of the most important and consequential issues in the sociology of health. It will be of interest to sociologists, anthropologists, historians, social workers as well as