SOC 3700 - Medicine, Morality, and Mortality

1) describe the socialization experiences of students in medical school;
2) identify and describe historical shifts regarding the place and practice of medicine in American society;
3) describe patient-doctor interactions and experiences in various clinical settings;
4) compare and contrast health and illness across social differences including race, socio-economic status, and gender;
5) articulate key ethical issues in medicine including the case of organ transplantation;
6) comprehend some of the complexities of medical practice, such as the role of patient compliance, surgical risk, and the anatomy of hope.

Content: This course explores the social worlds of medicine. Topics include the process of becoming a doctor, the history of medicine, patient and doctor experiences, inequities in access to health care, organ transplantation, medical complications, and the anatomy of hope. Using literature, film, text, and guest speakers, we will examine the roles of doctors, patients, and the institution of medicine in a social exploration of health, illness, and healing.

Taught: Periodically

Prerequisite: SOC 1110

Credits: 4