The New Blackwell Companion to
Medical Sociology
edited by
William C. Cockerham

The New Blackwell Companion to Medical Sociology is the latest book in Blackwell
’ s Companion series that brings together leading scholars in the various subdisciplines
of sociology to provide current discussions of the most important issues and
research in their respective fi elds.
This edition continues this process by providing insightful chapters from both
established and rising young scholars on health – related topics of central interest in
medical or health sociology.
The contributors are from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada,
Australia, France, Germany, Finland, the Netherlands, and Singapore who were
carefully selected to write chapters on topics in which they were recognized
experts. This edition differs from its predecessor in that all chapters are on substantive
topics. Country/regional perspectives from around the world are not included
since Blackwell ’ s editors felt little signifi cant change in the social organization of
health care had occurred in the various countries or regions since the publication
of the earlier volume in 2001.