One Day Symposium: Bridging the gap between the Sociologies of Diagnosis and Intervention

1 May 2012 - 31 May 2012

Project webpage(s)

One Day Symposium: Bridging the gap between the Sociologies of Diagnosis and Intervention

About the research

Novel technologies, including those based on post-human genome project developments such as whole genome sequencing, are raising the promise of earlier, faster and more detailed diagnostic tests than ever before. While scholars in the sociology of health and illness have begun to address the ELSI’s raised as such technologies move towards clinical application, the likely impact of new diagnostic regimes on existing practices and processes of post-diagnostic intervention remains a relatively neglected area both for social scientists and within healthcare practice and management itself. If changing diagnostic methodologies reframe the boundaries and meaning of disease categories how does this affect the meaning and choice of available interventions, and the subsequent trajectories of disease management, for patients and physicians? Do new diagnostic technologies affect existing organisational practices and if so how and with what outcomes? This one day symposium provides a platform to bring together scholars working in the sociology of health and illness to address these and other key issues and develop a more detailed research agenda for further work in this area. The symposium will consist of a series of presentations by key speakers in the morning session, followed by an afternoon workshop session intended to maximise the opportunities for productive discussion and knowledge exchange.