This highly topical and controversial book presents a lively re-appraisal of the current changes to the health service and analyzes their effects on the status and practice of health professionals.

Modern medicine is a powerful institution. With the help of highly-developed drugs and surgical techniques, it promises to relieve suffering, improve the quality of life and extend the life-span. Conversely, it is expensive for the governments, insurance companies and individuals who pay for it and sometimes appears to be insensitive to the needs of those for whom it provides. And while recent restructuring of healthcare delivery services has provided medical practitioners with new challenges, there has been very little consideration of the range of pressures that they now face.

Edited and written by experienced medical sociologists, this book draws together analysis of a number of diverse challenges to medicine, and provides original debate on the challenges posed from within medicine from nurses and managers and alternative practitioners, and from outside by self-help groups, the women's movement and the media.

About the Author
Kelleher, David; Gabe, Jonathan; Williams, Gareth

Reviews

'Especially refreshing to see theory interwoven with emprical work.' - The Lancet

'Essential and topical resource ... comprehensive appraisal of the role of the medical profession in late twentieth century health care'Ray Fitzpatrick, Nuffield College, Oxford

'An accessible and very interesting account of some of the important influences on the medical profession in modern society ... useful to anyone interested in getting a broad overview of some of the major factors that are currently shaping and influencing medical power and control.' - Health Services News

Praise for the first edition:

'Especially refreshing to see theory interwoven with empirical work.'

- The Lancet

'Essential and topical resource...comprehensive appraisal of the role of the medical profession in late twentieth century health care.' -Ray Fitzpatrick, Nuffield College, Oxford



Book Information
ISBN 9780415389549
Author David Kelleher
Format Paperback
Page Count 224
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 294g