New Book Redefines Medical Side Effects as Social Phenomena

A new book co-authored by University of Pennsylvania sociologist Jason Schnittker and Penn Ph.D. graduate Duy Do presents a groundbreaking perspective on medical side effects, asserting they are fundamentally products of social, cultural, and institutional forces. This challenges the traditional view that side effects are purely biological responses.

The authors argue that recognizing these broader origins is essential for significantly improving health outcomes nationwide. Schnittker underscored this importance, stating, "If we want to improve health outcomes in the U.S.—make all our treatments work even better than they do and improve well-being while we’re doing it—we need to take side effects and their origins more seriously."

This research from the University of Pennsylvania advocates for a more comprehensive understanding of treatment impacts, suggesting that addressing the societal context of side effects could lead to enhanced treatment efficacy and overall patient well-being in the United States.