Sociological perspectives on the politics of knowledge in health care: introduction to themed issue

Which kinds of knowledge provide valid foundations for healthcare choices and practices, and who decides, is highly contested. From public debates around the safety and efficacy of complementary medicines, vaccinations, new drugs, medical technologies and diets, to private decisions about the who, how, what and where of seeking treatment, the uncertainties of health-related knowledge are woven through our lives. This themed issue offers a sociological analysis of emerging trends and issues in how different knowledges inform, and are legitimated within, contemporary health care.