Beyond biology: Why social context is the key for improving modern medicine
Reports and Proceedings
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 3-Jun-2026 18:17 ET (3-Jun-2026 22:17 GMT/UTC)
A new monthly series in The Lancet is going beyond clinical diagnoses, tapping experts from the social sciences and humanities, as well as community members from around the world. The resulting cases provide a critical lens into the cultural and social forces that contribute to each patient’s condition — not just the biological factors. Each unpacks a framework or concept in the social sciences and humanities that researchers hope readers will incorporate into their own practice, leadership or policy-making.