Editing Bioethics (section)

== Medical sociology ==
The practice of bioethics in clinical care have been studied by [[medical sociology]].<ref>{{cite book | vauthors = Orfali K, de Vries R | chapter =Bioethics|date=2021 |title =The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Medical Sociology|pages=82–101|publisher=John Wiley & Sons, Ltd|doi=10.1002/9781119633808.ch5|isbn=978-1119633808 | s2cid =241369995}}</ref> Many scholars consider that bioethics arose in response to a perceived lack of accountability in medical care in the 1970s.<ref name=":4">{{cite journal | vauthors = Hauschildt K, De Vries R | title = Reinforcing medical authority: clinical ethics consultation and the resolution of conflicts in treatment decisions | journal = Sociology of Health & Illness | volume = 42 | issue = 2 | pages = 307–326 | date = February 2020 | pmid = 31565808 | pmc = 7012693 | doi = 10.1111/1467-9566.13003 }}</ref>{{Rp|2}} Studying the clinical practice of ethics in medical care, Hauschildt and Vries found that ethical questions were often reframed as clinical judgments to allow clinicians to make decisions. Ethicists most often put key decisions in the hands of physicians rather than patients.<ref name=":4" />{{Rp|14}}

Communication strategies suggested by ethicists act to decrease patient autonomy. Examples include, clinicians discussing treatment options with one another prior to talking to patients or their family to present a united front limited patient autonomy, hiding uncertainty amongst clinicians. Decisions about overarching goals of treatment were reframed as technical matters excluding patients and their families. Palliative care experts were used as intermediaries to guide patients towards less invasive end-of-live treatment.<ref name=":4" />{{Rp|11}} In their study, Hauschild and Vries found that 76% of ethical consultants were trained as clinicians.<ref name=":4" />{{Rp|12}}

Studying [[Informed consent#Medical sociology|informed consent]], Corrigan found that some social processes resulted in limitations to patients choice, but also at times patients could find questions regarding consent to medical trials burdensome.<ref>{{Cite journal| vauthors = Corrigan O |date=2003|title=Empty ethics: the problem with informed consent |journal=Sociology of Health & Illness|volume=25|issue=7|pages=768–792|doi=10.1046/j.1467-9566.2003.00369.x |pmid=19780205|doi-access=free}}</ref>

The most prevalent subject is how social stratification (based on SES, gender, class, ethnicity, and age) affects patterns of behavior related to health and sickness, illness risk, disability, and other outcomes related to health care. The study of health care organization and provision, which encompasses the evolving organizational structures of health care organizations and the social psychology of health and health care, is another important approach. These latter research cover topics including connections between doctors and patients, coping mechanisms, and social support. The description of other important fields of medical sociology study emphasizes how theory and research have changed in the twenty-first century.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/47869490 |title=International encyclopedia of the social & behavioral sciences |date=2001 |publisher=Elsevier |others=Neil J. Smelser, Paul B. Baltes |isbn=0-08-043076-7 |edition=1st |location=Amsterdam |oclc=47869490}}</ref>