Overview

Editors:

Glennys Howarth
School of Social Science and Social Work
University of Plymouth, UK

Ruth McManus
School of Social and Political Sciences
University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand

with

Sheila Harper, University of Sydney and Cyril Schafer, University of Otago

The purpose of this special issue of Health Sociology Review (volume 22/1, March 2013) is to consider new debates in sociology regarding 'what does it mean to die with dignity' in light of changing healthcare demands and diverse customary and historical practices.

To a large extent sociological perspectives have been marginalised and the field has been left for psychology and health sciences to dominate debate. There has been little discussion from sociology about wider social forces shaping healthcare demands and capabilities or the complex impacts of diverse customary and historical practices.

The editors of this issue of Health Sociology Review wish to open up the conversation so that a variety of perspectives in sociology can begin to be heard in the wider debate.

This special issue includes sociologically informed theoretical and empirical papers addressing topics such as:

• Appropriate Palliative care (accessibility and acceptability)
• What is a good death
• Places of death
• Methodology in death and dying social research

Editors:

Glennys Howarth
School of Social Science and Social Work
University of Plymouth, UK

Ruth McManus
School of Social and Political Sciences
University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand

with

Sheila Harper, University of Sydney and Cyril Schafer, University of Otago

The purpose of this special issue of Health Sociology Review (volume  21/4, Date  December 2012) is to consider new debates in sociology regarding 'what does it mean to die with dignity' in light of changing healthcare demands and diverse customary and historical practices. 

To a large extent sociological perspectives have been marginalised and the field has been left for psychology and health sciences to dominate debate. There has been little discussion from sociology about wider social forces shaping healthcare demands and capabilities or the complex impacts of diverse customary and historical practices.

The editors of this issue of Health Sociology Review open up the conversation so that a variety of perspectives in sociology can begin to be heard in the wider debate.

This special issue includes sociologically informed theoretical and empirical papers addressing topics such as:

• Appropriate Palliative care (accessibility and acceptability) 
• What is a good death
• Places of death
• Methodology in death and dying social research