Wendy Simonds, "Hospital Land USA: Sociological Adventures in Medicalization" (Routledge, 2016)

This episode of New Books in Sociology features an interview with Dr. Wendy Simonds, a professor of sociology and gerontology at Georgia State University, about her book "Hospital Land in USA, Sociological Adventures in Medicalization." Dr. Simonds discusses the origins of her research, which was inspired by her friendship with a colleague who died of cancer and her observations of medical environments. She defines "hospital land" as encompassing various medical facilities and the activities associated with them, as well as the pervasive influence of medical culture in everyday life. The conversation explores the concept of medicalization, the medical-industrial complex, and the stories and experiences of patients within the healthcare system. Dr. Simonds shares personal anecdotes, including her experiences with her colleague Chet and her father, to illustrate the themes of the book, such as the impersonal rationalization of hospitals, the disembodiment of patients, and the tension between healthcare and the provision of medical services.