Medical Work, Medical Knowledge and Health Care: A Sociology of Health & Illness Reader: A Sociology of Health and Illness Reader: 1 (Sociology of Health and Illness Monographs) - Softcover

This Reader introduces students of sociology and health care to the changing fields of medical knowledge and medical work. It provides a chronicle of research in the field of medical knowledge, medical work and health care over the past 25 years; and, summarises changes in how health care was delivered and how medical knowledge and practice were conceptualised over this period. Section introductions by the editors situate the articles within a wider body of literature. This is a valuable resource for student of sociology, social policy, social work, health policy or health care.

This selection of key articles chronicles research in the fields of medical knowledge, medical work and health care over the past 25 years. The articles are drawn from the leading international journal, The Sociology of Health and Illness and were originally published between 1980 and 2000. Presented together in one volume, they provide an overview of the major changes in the delivery of health care over this period, and in the way that social scientists and health care providers have conceptualised medical knowledge and practice.

In introducing each section of the book, the editors situate the articles within the development of research in the field and flag up links to other relevant literature. These features help to make this Reader an excellent resource for students of sociology, social policy, social work, health policy or health care.