This is an introduction to medical sociology for medical students, health professionals of all kinds and sociology students.

CONTENTS: Society and changing patterns of disease. Social causes of disease. Health and illness behaviour. The doctor-patient relationship. Hospitals, doctors and patient care. Living with chronic illness. Dying, death and bereavement. Inequality and social class. Women as patients and providers. The health and health care of ethnic minority groups. Older people, health care and society. The limits of medical knowledge. Deviance, sick role and stigma. Origins and development of the National Health Service. Health professions. Community and continuing care outside hospitals. Prevention and health promotion. Measuring health outcomes. Organizing and funding health care.