Key Terms
Medical sociology
The systematic study of how humans manage health, illness, disease, disorders, and healthcare for both the sick and the
Contestable illnesses
Questioned or considered questionable by some medical professionals (example: fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome)
Definitive illnesses
Unquestionably recognized by the medical profession
Stigmatization of illness
When patients are viewed negatively because of their condition; can result in sub-par care, segregated facilities, or pe
Social epidemiology
The study of the causes and distribution of diseases. It connects social conditions to health outcomes across population
Morbidity
The incidence of disease.
Medicalization
The process by which previously normal aspects of life are redefined as deviant and in need of medical attention.
Mental disorder
Makes it more difficult to cope with everyday life
Mental illness
Severe, lasting disorder requiring long-term treatment
Impairment
The physical limitation itself Disability: the social limitation that results from how society is structured
Employment gap
18.6 percent employment-population ratio for people with disabilities vs. 63.5 percent for people without disabilities (
Underinsured
Spending at least 10 percent of income on out-of-pocket healthcare costs; or for low-income adults, medical expenses at
Passed
2010. Fully implemented: 2014.
Socialized medicine
The government owns and runs the entire healthcare system; employs doctors, nurses, and staff; owns hospitals. Example:
Universal healthcare
Guarantees coverage for everyone; care itself may come from private providers. Examples: Germany, Singapore, Canada.