Soc. 101 - Social Problems
C. McGehee, Instructor

                                 
                        STUDY GUIDE WEEK 8


What is the significance of the "lifeboat" problem for understanding issues of 
medicine in modern life?

What criteria would you use to decide who should receive limited care resources, 
such as, organ transplants, high-tech equipment, limited funds, etc?  Why?

List the hard choices facing modern society with regard to health.  Why are they 
hard choices? What are the alternatives?

What consequences does the assumption of unlimited resources have on policy?

What consequences does the assumption of limited resources have on policy?

What would be the consequences for a society if people were free to select the sex 
of their children?

What would be the consequences for a society if family and physicians were free to 
"pull the plug" on sick people?

Discuss the relationship between urbanization and health.

How was the plague of the middle ages related to the rise of capitalism?

Who was Thomas Malthus and what did he have to do with our understanding of population
and social problems.

Is medicine an art or a science?  Discuss the difference.

Discuss the relationship between industrialization and health.

List and discuss key economic issues related to aging and an aging population.

How has the number of persons over the age of 65 changed since 1900?

What proportion of the population will be over 65 when today's 20 year olds are 85 
(year 2063)

What does "sex ratio" mean"?  What is its relationship to aging?

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