Social control in doctor–patient relationships: Similarities and differences across medical specialties

Abstract

Chapter X of The Social System is often cited as the “charter” for the specialty field of medical sociology. A notable feature of its analysis is the argument that the physician is an agent of social control in relation to the patient. This argument grounds the application to medical practice of Parsons’ general conception that social control is an aspect of all social relationships. Parsons started by addressing the situation of a patient who assumes the sick role and then becomes the patient of a physician. The sick role involves a suspension of at least some of the performance expectations associated with a person's everyday social life, such as expectations of working productively at one's job, attending the meeting of a civic association, or caring for one's family members. But in assuming the sick role, an individual encounters new expectations that he or she should try to get well. For minor illnesses this may involve only resting, drinking fluids, and avoiding stress. For more serious illnesses, given our culture's valuation of scientific medicine, it typically involves placing oneself in the care of a physician. It then becomes the physician's duty to offer treatment and guidance to restore one's health and enable one to return to meet expectations of everyday roles. Thus the physician becomes an agent of social control.

Citation

Lidz, V. (2010), "Social control in doctor–patient relationships: Similarities and differences across medical specialties", Chriss, J.J. (Ed.) Social Control: Informal, Legal and Medical (Sociology of Crime, Law and Deviance, Vol. 15), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 149-169. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1521-6136(2010)0000015010