HLST 1010 Chapter Notes -Medical Sociology, Sick Role, Structural Functionalism
26 Nov 2014
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According to bourgeault, sociology is a field of study that encompasses human society and its social structures. The view of sociology on health and health care is termed medical sociology or the sociology of health. (41). Health can be seen from the perspective of structural functionalism where the focus is placed on the relationship between individuals and groups in the society and how their functionality is influenced due to these relationships. The relationship between a patient and a physician for example is based on the roles of the individuals. The patient plays a sick role and the physician plays the provision role where he treats the patient into a state of health and thus has access to the patient"s body and personal life. This view does not describe this relationship as controlling (on the part of the doctors). (43). Contradictory to this view is postmodernism, it argues for the importance of subjectivism and plurality of viewpoints.
