Health, illness, and medical care: sociological, historical, and ethnographic perspectives

Abstract

This paper analyzes health, illness, and medical care from sociological, historical, and ethnographic perspectives, showing that these processes are not merely biological but also social constructions shaped by power relations, professional hierarchies, and cultural representations. It reviews the social conceptions of health, the historical evolution of the doctor–patient relationship, and the role of medicine as a dominant profession in tension with other forms of knowledge and health occupations. It also presents critiques of the biomedical model and highlights the importance of integral and interdisciplinary approaches that recognize the active participation of patients.