The sociology of medicine has come a long way from its origins in epidemiology and clinical practice. Like all specialist areas of study it has developed its own internal debates, over the years there has been a shift from a sociology in medicine to a sociology of medicine, and from a sociolgy of medicine, towards a sociology of health and illness. It is to the development of this latter perspective that this volume is addressed.

The sociology of medicine has come a long way from its origins in epidemiology and clinical practice. Like all specialist areas of study it has developed its own internal debates, over the years there has been a shift from a sociology in medicine to a sociology of medicine, and from a sociolgy of medicine, towards a sociology of health and illness. It is to the development of this latter perspective that this volume is addressed.

The sociology of medicine has come a long way from its origins in epidemiology and clinical practice. Like all specialist areas of study it has developed its own internal debates, over the years there has been a shift from a sociology in medicine to a sociology of medicine, and from a sociolgy of medicine, towards a sociology of health and illness. It is to the development of this latter perspective that this volume is addressed.