TY - JOUR AB - Purpose– The major thesis of this article is how social contract theory sheds light on the interaction of structure and agency. A minor thesis is to rebut the conclusions drawn from Stanley Milgram's famous obedience experiments.Design/methodology/approach– The argument rests in large part on an extensive review of authentic, empirical evidence found in studies of medical compliance.Findings– Patient agency is choosing not to comply with medical orders has over the years forced structural changes in the doctor–patient relations. These changes can be understand through the evolution of three kinds of social contract.Practical implications– One important implication is that non‐compliance can be a relational choice in one's lifeworld.Originality/value– No other study has brought together Milgram's evidence with the medical compliance literature to demonstrate the integration of agency and structure. VL - 26 IS - 7/8 SN - 0144-333X DO - 10.1108/01443330610680407 UR - https://doi.org/10.1108/01443330610680407 AU - Jackson Michael PY - 2006 Y1 - 2006/01/01 TI - Orders and obedience: structure and agency T2 - International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy PB - Emerald Group Publishing Limited SP - 309 EP - 325 Y2 - 2024/03/29 ER -