Social Constructionism and its Relevance to Health Policy

Abstract

This paper tracks the development of the social constructionist approach to medical knowledge, and explores some ofits implications for health policy and medical sociology research. It suggests that the impetus for this approach came in part from Eliot Freidson’s recognition in the 1970s ofthe social character of medical knowledge in both its production and its application, and the difficulties this presented for the conventional conceptual schema in which he framed the rest ofhis work. It is suggested that any policy moves to impinge on medical decision-making in the name ofgreater efficiency would be preempted by the strong interest shared by the medical profession and the economic rationalists in shielding from public exposure the political values hidden within their respective knowledge bases.