The Blackwell Companion to Medical Sociology is a comprehensive collection of twenty-six original essays by leading medical sociologists from all over the world. The articles are organized both topically and by region to provide thorough coverage of the concerns, issues, and future directions of the discipline. This invaluable resource is the most informed, complete, and up-to-date reference on transnational medical sociology available today. Covers both substantive areas in medical sociology and regional perspectives located in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa First comparative perspective to provide a comprehensive view of the field