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?  We will closely examine how social factors 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?  Does stress harm physical and mental health?  Is the
individual or the health care system responsible for health?  Is
being sick actually a social role?  Should deviant behavior be
medicalized and labeled mental illness?  In addition, the purpose of
medical service in the United States will be discussed and how
physician-patien interaction can be improved.  There is a debate
about the contributions and limitations of medical science in the
United States.  Can we, the public, change the focus, direction, and
costs of medical care?  Overall, medical sociology is relevant for
many disciplines such as medicine, public health, epidemiology,
psychology, physical education, law, politics, and business.