The Second Sickness: Contradictions of Capitalist Health Care / Edition 2

by Howard Waitzkin

Overview

Since the appearance of Waitzkin's The Second Sickness, a landmark book of the 1980s, American medicine has been dramatically transformed. Waitzkin's earlier edition used qualitative research to take readers inside the “black box” of medical decisionmaking. This new, fully updated and expanded edition retains the earlier edition's vivid approach and adds timely analysis of how managed care and other economic and social forces influence medical practice today.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780847698875
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	02/09/2000
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	873,506
Product dimensions:	5.82(w) x 9.02(h) x 0.52(d)

About the Author

Howard Waitzkin is Professor and Director, Division of Community
Medicine, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of New Mexico.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 List of Figures and Tables Chapter 2 Preface to the Second Edition Chapter 3 Preface to the First Edition and Acknowledgments Part 4 I: Medicine, Social Structure, and Social Pathology Chapter 5 1. Health Care, Social Contradictions, and the Dilemmas of Reform Chapter 6 2. Social Structures of Medical Oppression Chapter 7 3. The Social Origins of Illness: A Neglected History Part 8 II: Problems in Contemporary Health Care Chapter 9 4. Technology, Health Costs, and the Structure of Private Profit Chapter 10 5. Social Medicine and the Community Chapter 11 6. The Micropolitics of the Doctor-Patient Relationship Part 12 III: Policy, Practice, and Social Change Chapter 13 7. Medicine and Social Change: Lessons from Chile and Cuba Chapter 14 8. Conclusion: Health Praxis, Reform, and Political Struggle Chapter 15 Notes Chapter 16 Selected Bibliography Chapter 17 Index Chapter 18 About the Author

Editorial Reviews

This is not a political book but one of political action. The healing profession has to face not only sickness in the individual but sickness in society; all too often, the second sickness is the root of the first. This book will spark controversy.. . .

The New England Journal Of Medicine

Makes good reading for anyone interested in health policy.. .. Waitzkin's warnings about the limits of health reform are thought-provoking.

The New Physician

Superb.. .. Stands out like a beacon amidst confusion.. .. The richness of detail and evidence adduced to support the arguments are exceptional.

Social Science & Medicine

Presents a Marxist-oriented analysis of the contradictions in society that form the basis of problems in the health-care systems. Discusses structures of oppression and the social origins of illness, which have emerged as even greater problems as corporate penetration of health care has increased. Examines issues of technology and profit, then sets out lessons from Chile and Cuba and reform recommendations. This second edition takes into account changes since in the situation since the first edition was published in 1983. The author is professor and director at the Division of Community Medicine, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of New Mexico. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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