Sociology of Health and Illness

Catalog description

This course examines the social contexts of health, illness, and medical care. It gives prominence to the debates and contrasting theoretical perspectives which provide insight into the political, economic and cultural factors which affect the recognition, distribution and response to illness and disease. Topics include the social construction of health and illness; the global nature of the AIDS epidemic; the patient's perspective on illness; the development of the health professions and the health work force; alternative systems of healing; ethical issues in medicine as they relate to medical technology; and comparative health care reform.