ABSTRACT
In his theoretical conclusions, T. Parsons is at his most functionally optimistic and empirically wrong. E. Freidson is led by his initial dichotomy into a critical look at the structures of medical care and particularly at the part played by physicians as a profession in the process of social control within health services, the social control exercised over physicians themselves. Sociology in medicine shares the ideology, and so sees the problem of medical care in terms of individual motives, whereas what is at issue is the social environment in which individuals work. Sociologic theory in the field of medicine as elsewhere must be alert to recognize conflicting interests and their symbols and to analyze the reasons for them in their context. Medicine, usually regarded as a natural science, actually is a social science because its goal is social. Medical sociologic theory needs to see the developments in historical context to avoid facile and ineffective suggestions for solution.
