The social transformation of American medicine

What Hacker News says

1. directevolveJun 2026
   Since 1974, when science increasingly underwrote policy, it’s become entwined with politics through the EPA, climate change, treatment of gender and sexuality, public health, mandatory teaching of evolution, and “critical race theory.”

   Conservatives don’t have as much of a problem with science when it avoids “impact science” and sticks to topics that don’t conflict with church teachings or business interests.

   But trust in science has never been universal. Trust in institutions and experts had to be built painstakingly over generations. The Social Transformation of American Medicine is a great account of this process for American doctors.

   Show morethread
2. FomiteMar 2021
   The Social Transformation of American Medicine is an illuminating read. Much of how we got here came in the form of, essentially, patches on top of patches, some of which were for good reasons, some of which were not.
   thread
3. killjoywashereJul 2020
   See Paul Starr's The Social Transformation of American Medicine for an in depth discussion.
   thread
4. FomiteJan 2020
   I believe the correct title is "The Social Transformation of American Medicine".

   Dry as hell, but an insightful book.

   thread
5. killjoywashereApr 2018
   > politicians (or talking heads)

   If you're serious about learning, stop listening to these people (seriously, it's a waste of your one precious life) and try taking a healthcare economics class or reading Paul Starr's Social Transformation of American Medicine.

   thread
6. killjoywashereNov 2017
   Paul Starr's The Social Transformation of American Medicine is the standard text on these issues.
   thread