The Uses of 'The Social Transformation of American Medicine': The Case of Law

Abstract:     
"The Social Transformation of American Medicine" (1982) is a historical study written by a sociologist. Much of the influence of the book, however, has been on disciplines other than history and sociology. The book has been widely cited in other fields, fields as diverse as health services research, nursing, social work, bioethics, philosophy of medicine, dentistry, and anthropology. It is possible, however, that in no other single discipline has the book been referenced as often as in law. This article considers first the way in which "The Social Transformation" has been used in legal citation. Second, it examines the influence of the book on the development of the health law discipline and on health law scholars. Finally, it raises the question of whether the book has had an effect on the law itself.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 17

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