Medical Sociology Essay - 3862 Words

Medical Sociology Introduction That the medical field is facing very difficult challenges, some of which are old and many which are new, is nothing new to the public. Issues such as the lack of health care coverage for everyone, the high cost of medical care and the growing distance between health care professionals and patients are only few highlights of this crisis. What is different about our current crisis is the approach that is taken in order to solve these problems. Present discussion of the health care crisis centers around economic and political issues, and moreover, many health care workers and sociologists are concerned that such a discussion has shifted the emphasis away from the people in the system--the patients and†¦show more content†¦Theory and general practices of medical sociology Before applications of medical sociology are addressed, a look at the theory and general practice of medical sociology is appropriate. The theory of sociology concerns understanding the meaning of social action which comprises the subjective elements of human beings; it explores human beings and their relationship to social agencies and the hierarchical structures of society which determine the quality of that relationship; and it addresses questions of social order in the midst of disruptive and disorganizing elements in society (Turner, 1987, p. 3, emphasis added). When applied to medicine, sociology becomes the means by which health care personnel can see the whole picture, including historical, economical, cultural, and political forces. There has been a controversy surrounding the authority of medical sociology as a critical voice of the current health system. First is the concern that most of the medical sociologists do not go to medical school; they are not trained professionals. However, many view this prejudice as a historical and social power problem. For instance, in the past, the doctors word was not questioned or scrutinized as itShow MoreRelatedMedical Sociology Is Usually Referred To As The Sub Branch1539 Words   |  7 Pages Medical sociology is usually referred to as the sub branch of sociology that explores and analyses the social causes and subsequent outcomes pertaining to health and illness (Cockerham, 2014). In this context mention may be made of the health status of individuals and populations that are not uniform and consistent thereby leads to inequity. The factors governing these disparities do not necessarily emanate from the genetic predispositions of the concerned person but is largely depe ndent upon factorsRead MoreWhat Is It To Be Convincing? At First, This Appears As1750 Words   |  7 Pagesoptions. That is, it is a general question asking on what grounds will someone be â€Å"truly† willing to change their beliefs? Another possibility is to read it specifically in relation to the context of the title of this preface: what makes cognitive sociology convincing? To follow the general interpretation strategy, it seems important to know whether this is a question of philosophy or the arts. If it is one of philosophy, the answer would bring in the sub-field of epistemology that studies theoriesRead MoreA Sociological Theory Of Health And Illness1668 Words   |  7 Pagesbelieve that medical profession is fundamental part of this unit and plays the most important role in the development of the society. Functionalist believes that medical profession possess the highest status in the society. It is because of their strenuous and long period of study, deferred gratification and vital role they play in the society by dealing with sick people, and treating them equally, professionally and ethically. Functionalists emphasized on the recognition of medical professionalsRead MoreThe Sociology Of Health And Illness1292 Words   |  6 Pagesexplains that Medical sociology or the sociology of health and illness is majorly based on the empiricist philosophy which uses the measurement of objectives for quantitative change. Lupton (2012) traces that early in its development, medical sociology inherited rationalist approach for its acceptance as semi-scientific methodology and by virtue of which is considered as a component of social medicine rather than critical sociology and theRead MoreThe Sociological Imagination Essay1065 Words   |  5 Pagesa society with the society as a whole. Most people refer to sociology as the study of how people or individuals interact with each other. In order to fully understand sociology and the concept of the sociological imagination as proposed by C. Wright Mills, one has to be able to envision the individual and the society working together to better understand the role each plays in the social order. C. Wright Mills states that Sociology must make a connection between the individual and the socialRead MoreThe Study Of Human Social Relationships And Institutions873 Words   |  4 PagesAmerican Sociological Association Sociology; there are only so many ways to define this term and one of them according to The University of North Carolina, is â€Å"the study of human social relationships and institutions.† A sociologist’s on the other hand is someone who works as a professor, researcher, or consultant on sociological issues. For all the sociologists in the world, what they are simply trying to do in the most basic sense is understand society. There are hundreds of people who dedicateRead MoreAsdfghjkl894 Words   |  4 PagesSociology Research Area * * Aging and the Life Course * Alcohol and Substance Abuse * Asia amp; Asian America * Collective Behavior and Social Movements * Community and Urban Sociology * Comparative and Historical Sociology * Sociology and Computers * Crime, Law amp; Deviance * Economic Sociology * Environment amp; Technology * Family amp; Marriage * History of Sociology * International Migration * Latino/aRead MoreSociology, Race, And Social Classes1154 Words   |  5 PagesArielis Gonzalez SOCI 110 March 8, 2017 Sociology Sociology is the study of diverse subjects in a society which includes: religion, race culture, and social classes. It also involves the study of the behavior of people and all the changes that happen in society. In each social setting, there are shared beliefs which also change through time. Sociology informs us of the making of policies which tend to improve the lives of people in a setting. It provides distinct perspectives to generate new ideasRead MoreBio-Medicine1004 Words   |  5 Pages Sociology is the study of human interaction and organisation of society; it is often areas which are problematized in need of provision. It can be explained that health and illness are simply biological descriptions of the state of our bodies. The structures of the body have been mapped out through genetics. This is ever closer inspection of the body or as Foucault 1977 would suggest through this ‘medical gaze’ which has brought considerable power to the medical profession. The sociology ofRead MoreHealth: A Major Social Issue1425 Words   |  6 Pageswhen they are ill. The sick role allows the person to be exempt from normal social obligations and to not be blamed for being ill, while also requiring that the person attempts to return to being healthy as soon as possible and complies with the medical profession ( Moore, 2008, p282). Therefore illness has a social dimension, in that it is viewed as a hindrance to the functioning of society. Parsons’ theory has been criticised by other sociologists for many reasons, such as the fact that it does