Patient Power?
Edition: 1 edition
Series: State of Health Series
Publisher: Open University Press
Published: May 1, 2000
Language: eng
Format: Paperback
Number of pages: 208
ISBN-13: 9780335203673
Subjects: Health systems & services; Pressure groups & lobbying; Public health & preventive medicine; Medical; Medical / Nursing; Health Care Delivery; Medical / Public Health; Public Health; Great Britain; Patient advocacy; Patients' associations; United States
First sentence: This is the first comparative study of patients' associations which relate to particular diseases or medical conditions that focuses on political power and influence.
Description: "There is a rapidly growing number of patients' associations relating to a specific medical condition or illness (such as multiple sclerosis or motor neurone disease) but they have received little academic attention. Bruce Wood has surveyed over 200 of these associations in each of the USA and the UK. They have been marginalized in accounts of health policy and services and yet collectively they are 'big business'. They perceive themselves as being non-political support groups but they actually participate in much activity that is political. Patient Power? asks: Are these economically efficient and politically effective bodies? Is the US 'business' or the UK 'volunteer' model more successful?

Are they truly independent organizations or have they been 'colonized' by the big vested interests in health? Are they a signal of a more assertive patient or consumer? Do they actually influence what health care people receive?" "This study will be important reading for scholars, students and professionals and, in particular, for those involved in running patient organizations."--Jacket.