Medical Care Physical and Mental Illness Michael Itagaki
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Medical Care: Physical and Mental Illness Michael Itagaki Sociology 102, Social Problems
Problem in Sociological Perspective n Health and Illness as a social problem, relative to other social issues
Table 10. 1 (p. 313) The Most Important Problems Facing the Nation
Problem in Sociological Perspective n Social nature of health and illness u Changing ideas about disease— Black lung disease u Effects of industrialization— Iatrogenesis u Medical incompetence
Problem in Sociological Perspective n Social organization of medicine as a source of problems u Rising costs
Figure 10. 1 (p. 315) The Nation's Medical Bill: Soaring Costs Note: The broken line represents estimates by the U. S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Source: By the author, based on Statistical Abstract of the United States 2003: Table 127.
Problem in Sociological Perspective n Social organization of medicine as a source of problems u Rising costs « New technology & demand for latest treatments « Last-minute intervention vs. prevention « Medical care sold for profit
Problem in Sociological Perspective n Social organization of medicine as a source of problems u Rising costs « Case of Caesarean sections u Two-class system of medical care
The Scope of the Problem n Illness as a social problem u How much illness in the U. S. ?
Table 10. 3 (p. 317) Number of Days Americans Are So Sick That They Cut Down on Their Activities for More than Half a Day
The Scope of the Problem n Illness as a social problem u How much illness in the U. S. ? u Life expectancy
Figure 10. 10 - U. S. Life Expectancy by Year of Birth. Page 271
The Scope of the Problem n Illness as a social problem u How much illness in the U. S. ? u Life expectancy u Infant mortality « Social factors: geography
Figure 10. 3 (p. 318) The Geography of Death: Infant Mortality Rates Source: By the author, based on Statistical Abstract of the United States 2003: Table 114.
The Scope of the Problem n Illness as a social problem u How much illness in the U. S. ? u Life expectancy u Infant mortality « Social factors: geography « U. S. vs. rest of the world
Figure 10. 4 (p. 319) Infant Mortality Rates Source: By the author, based on Statistical Abstract of the United States 1998: Table 1345; 2003: Table 1326.
Symbolic Interaction and Medical Care n Giving meaning to the symptoms u Social n Political meaning to illness u Ex. n Class/Culture differences of homosexuality Definitions affecting perceptions u Alcohol abuse and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
Functionalism and Medical Care n Who benefits? u Medical profession « Physicians, companies hospitals, pharmaceutical
Figure 10. 7 (p. 326) How Much Does It Cost to Stay in the Hospital? One Day's Cost Compared to Inflation Source: By the author, based on Statistical Abstract of the United States 1998: Table 137; 2003: Table 171.
Functionalism and Medical Care n Who benefits? u Medical profession « Physicians, companies u Patients hospitals, pharmaceutical
Conflict Theory and Medical Care n Who benefits? u Medical profession, but not patients u Ex. of Medicaid u Exploitation of women « Ex. unnecessary hysterectomies « Exploitation of illness
Research Findings n Historical changes in health problems
Figure 10. 8 a (p. 329) The Ten Leading Causes of Death in the United States Source: By the author, based on Rockett 1994; Statistical Abstract 2003: Tables 118, 119.
Research Findings n n Historical changes in health problems Superbugs in the Global Village (p. 331) u Use of antibiotics and mutation of bacteria and germs n Social basis of AIDS
Figure 10. 10 (p. 332) Source: By the author, based on Centers for Disease Control 2004.
Social Policy n Preventative medicine u Primary prevention u Secondary prevention u Tertiary prevention n Primary prevention: Lifestyle choice? u Overweight in America
Social Policy n Social organization of medicine as a source of problems u Are these contributing to depersonalization in medicine? « Patients treated as things, not people « Idea of holistic care