Composed entirely of specially commissioned chapters by some of the outstanding scholars in medical sociology, this edition reflects important changes in the study of health and illness. In addition to updated and reconceived chapters on the impacts of gender, race, and inequality on health, this volume has new chapters on topics that include: --social networks, neighborhoods, and social capital disability dying and "the right to die" health disparities--the growing influence of the pharmaceutical industry--patient safety--evidence-based medicine and quality of care--health social movements--genetics--religion, spirituality, and health