[Patients and homeopathy: an overview of sociological literature]

This paper is divided into three parts: first is an overview of the sociology of the doctor-patient-relationship in general; second is a discussion of the sociology of homeopathy as a heterogeneous form of medicine and as a form of medical pluralism; third is a sketch of some sociological views of the homeopathic patient. My general thesis is that the homeopathic doctor-patient-relationship may be considered both pre-modern and post-modern. It is characterized by partial expertise of the patient, and by longer patients' accounts.