Social medicine in the twenty-first century
2006

Social Medicine in the Twenty-First Century

Editorial

Author Information

Author(s): The PLoS Medicine Editors, Scott Stonington, Seth M. Holmes

Primary Institution: University of California San Francisco

Conclusion

The editorial emphasizes the importance of considering social structures in health and illness, arguing that most diseases are linked to social conditions rather than just biological factors.

Supporting Evidence

  • Most disease on the planet is attributable to the social conditions in which people live and work.
  • The socially disadvantaged have less access to health services and get sicker and die earlier than the privileged.
  • Understanding the culture of medicine is essential to understanding health professionals' attitudes toward illness, patients, and treatments.

Takeaway

This article talks about how our health is affected not just by our genes but also by the society we live in, like our access to doctors and how much money we have.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pmed.0030445

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