The Advancements of Medicine & Technology
Olivia Gabriel 10C
The advancements of medicine and medical technology since the 20th century have had a highly significant impact on society and societal events. The understanding and development of medicine and technology have created a safer and more advanced way of living throughout history, and will continue to do so in the future. Such advancements to medicine and society have been achieved through key events and discoveries such as vaccinations and antibiotics, particularly penicillin. Furthermore, the effect of medical advancements has been heightened by the growth of technology which has greatly contributed to the quality of modern day medicine. Both medical and technological advancements have significantly influenced societal and historical events, hence corroborating that since the 1900’s, medicine has played a major role in many aspects of society.
The mass production and availability of vaccinations have greatly impacted and changed society throughout history, thus making vaccinations acknowledged as one as the most influential historical advancements. Vaccinations are arguably one of the most prominent medical advancements, as they have ultimately eradicated wide-spread illness and death from numerous diseases throughout history. This idea is supported by the 2016 work of Doherty, Buchy, Standeart, Giaquinto and Prado-Cohrs, who state, "Vaccines have the potential for far-reaching effects that encompass health service utilisation, general health and wellbeing, cognitive development and, ultimately, economic productivity." This statement offers the perspective from medical professors, and is particularly useful in comprehending the exact impact that vaccinations have had on society, implying an affirmative mind-set on the success of vaccines. The influence that vaccinations have had on the suppression of disease and furthermore society, is additionally recognised in a statement made by Greenwood (2014), “Vaccines have been developed using the principle of attenuation, including rubella, influenza, rotavirus, tuberculosis and typhoid vaccines." Greenwood, who offers an academic perspective, elucidates the impression that vaccinations have been highly impactful to society by subduing countless diseases which, and is relevant in understanding why vaccinations are regarded as one of the most influential advancements to society. However, Greenwood (2014) then questions this by stating, “There was a large and progressive decline in child mortality, however this was associated with improvements in housing, nutrition and sanitation." Greenwood’s comment suggests that the progress in health associated with vaccinations is rather the result of improved safety and hygiene, therefore offering the opposing perspective that vaccinations should not be considered as one of the most influential developments in society. Nonetheless, Greenwoods position is again challenged by Doherty et al., (2016) who quote “Immunisation has become one of the most widespread and successful of all health interventions after the provision of safe drinking water. The reason for this is simple: the first immunisation campaigns were directed at diseases that had very high mortality and morbidity in their communities". This quote is relevant in assessing the overall impact that vaccinations have had on society, past and present. The language used implies that vaccinations hold high importance in the improvement of health in communities, and have been successful in combating many diseases. It proves that vaccines are one of the most significant advancements. Ultimately, through analysis of several perspectives, it is evident that the mass production and availability of vaccinations have greatly impacted and changed society throughout history.
Antibiotics, specifically penicillin, have been highly influential and significant to both historical and societal events, particularly in regard to war events. This medical advancement has played a majorly significant role in many aspects of society, prominently in World War II. This idea is reinforced by Eickhoff, (2008) who states “It has helped reduce the number of deaths and amputations of troops during World War II. Per records, there were only 400 million units of penicillin available during the first five months of 1943; by the time World War II ended, U.S. companies were making 650 billion units a month.” This viewpoint offered by an MD, is specifically beneficial in comprehending the exact impact that penicillin had on reducing illness and mortality in World War II, thus implying that antibiotics had an exceedingly explicit impact on a historical event. The effects of Sir Alexander Fleming’s discovery of penicillin on historical and societal events is furthermore acknowledged in a poster from 1944. This primary source presented by Tete (2013), is useful in showing the correlation between penicillin and historical events, particularly war. The text on the poster; “Thanks to PENICILLIN…He will come home!”, implies that the antibiotics creates nationwide relief in regards to war mortality, as penicillin will save the men at war. There is also the implied meaning that more men died of infections during warfare than by conflict, which contributes to the nationwide relief of war mortality. The image and language used infers that penicillin held high prominence throughout history, as its influences impacted events in an affirmative manner, particularly in World War II. Whilst antibiotics had a major influence on past events, it continues to do so in present day and will continue to do so in the future. This idea is confirmed by Eickhoff (2008) who states “It is really impossible for me to imagine what the world would be like without penicillin. I question whether there would be a discipline of infectious diseases as we know it today." This opinion intertwines with the figures from Eickhoff’s same work from 2008 to confirm the importance of penicillin to past and present events. This quote is valuable in answering the overall inquiry; the significance of medical advancements on society, as it implies that the world would be simply insufficient and incompetent without the discovery of penicillin. This idea is further enforced by another quote from Eickhoff’s 2008 work; “The discovery of penicillin changed the course of medicine and has enabled physicians to treat formerly severe and life-threatening illnesses such as bacterial endocarditis, meningitis, pneumococcal pneumonia, gonorrhoea and syphilis." This statement frames the exact power that antibiotics have had on the revolution of modern medicine by providing cures to threatening illnesses, and allows for a greater understanding the comprehensive effects that penicillin has had on society. Therefore, it is evident that antibiotics, specifically penicillin, have been greatly effective and significant to both historical and societal events, particularly in regard to war events.
The growth and development of technology has had a significant impact on the advancements in medicine throughout history. It is often understood that the major improvement of technology since the 1900s has been fundamental to the medical advancements, thus to society and societal events. This is established in an article of The New York Times, authored by Jones (1974). This primary source is relevant in understanding how technology was able to benefit the revolution of modern day medicine and impacted historical and societal events. The large, bold text within the source reads “Cancer Found Electronically!”, which implies that the MRI scan has the potential to change the course of modern medicine. During this time, cancer was viewed by society as an incurable and devastating illness, and that with the discovery of magnetic resonance imaging it could lead to decreased mortalities. Although technology has evidently improved the advancements of medicine, some argue that this is at a cost. The 2006 work of Weatherall, Greenwood, Chee and Wasi challenge the idea that technology is continually positive by stating, "Figures reflect, at least in part, the acquisition of expensive medical technology that in some cases has led to inefficient use of societal resources." This quote offered by several MDs implies that, although technology does benefit medicine, it has in some cases been detrimental in terms of costing. It is relevant in understanding how the growth and development of technology has had a significant impact on the advancements in medicine throughout history. While the work of Weatherall et al., (2006) suggests that the costs of technology have impacted the course of medical advancements, the newspaper article announcing the discovery of cancer finding imaging challenges this by illustrating the positive influence of technology. Ultimately, through the analysis of various range of sources, it can be understood that the progression and development of technology has had a substantial impression on the advancements in medicine throughout history, therefore proving that since the 1900s, medicine has played a vital role in many aspects of society.
Through the analysis and understanding of numerous perspectives, it is evident that
the advancements of medicine and medical technology since the 20th century have had a highly significant impact on society and societal events. Several components intertwine to prove this statement. These include the mass production and availability of vaccinations, antibiotics, specifically penicillin, and the growth and development of technology. Such key events and discoveries elucidate that both medical and technological advancements have significantly influenced societal and historical events, hence validating that since the 1900’s, medicine has played a major role in many aspects of society.