Topic:  Medicine in America: Physicians, Patients and Their Problems

This course is an introduction to medical sociology.  Health,
illness, and medical care are important social issues.  While the
profession of medicine has at its disposal the most powerful
technology ever known and the most generous financial support ever
provided by the public sector, why has it failed to cure society’s
ills?  How do social conditions influence individual health and the
quality of medical care?

We will explore topics about physicians, patients, and their problems
from a sociological perspective.  What is health?  Who is most likely
to become ill?  Why are there racial health disparities?  How does
stress harm health in different social environments?  Do physicians
have the power to influence mortality?  What is the purpose of
medical service in the United States and how can it be improved to be
more beneficial to patients?

There is a debate about the contributions and limitations of medical
science in the United States.  Outside the canopy of American medical
science, there are “alternative” therapies.  Who uses such
alternative treatment as acupuncture, chiropractic, and homeopathy?
Can we, the public, change the focus, direction, and costs of medical
care?  Overall, medical sociology has interdisciplinary relevance for
many disciplines such as medicine, business, law, psychology, and
social policy.