The Hippocratic Oath has been a guide for physicians for literally thousands of years. Now, in the twenty-first century, we face unprecedented health advances and even more unprecedented health crises. With the advent of AIDS and hemorragic fevers such as Ebola, scientists are confounded about cures. Yet we have progressed so far in our war on other diseases.
There are a number of problems we now face. For example, if you do have health insurance, what guarantees do you have that your medical records are between you and your physician? Do life insurance companies and employers have the right to your medical records? Are doctors complying with the Hippocratic Oath, or are they facing pressure from insurance companies to see as many patients as possible and to be cost effective? What rights do patients have? How will medical ethics affect YOUR future?
Questions to keep in mind: Who was Hippocrates? What is the "Hippocratic Oath"? Who takes this oath? When do they take it? Why are medical ethics important? What is penicillin? When and how was it invented? What was a major consequence of the development of penicillin? When and why was the World Health Organization developed? What are some of the diseases that were brought very much under control during the mass inoculation programs of the 20th century? Who was Jonas Salk? What did he develop? How did Salk's creation make the world a better place? Is population control a major world health issues? Why? Or why not? How is life healthier for Americans born in 1900 in comparison to those born in 2000? Why? How has technology played a vital role in improved health for Americans in the 20th century? What new threats do we face? How can we combat them?
Key Words: Medical Advancements, breakthroughs in medicine, advances in medicine, foundation for advances in medicine, medical advancements are bad and dangerous
Starting Points:
A Canadian website with links to resources on medicine and medical advancements: http://www.learning-network.org/global/issues/m/medicine/index.html
SEASONED SPACE VETS CONTINUE TO MAKE MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGHS – Article on medical advancements and the space program: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2000/10/001002072155.htm
Basic Research, the Lifeline of Medicine – Article about scientific advancements and their impact on society: http://www.nobel.se/medicine/articles/research/
Scripps Health Foundation Journal "update: The News in Medicine and Health Care" Go to the "Attachments" pdf link towards the bottom of the page for the latest issue of “update.": http://www.scrippshealthfoundation.org/information2090/information_show.htm?doc_id=28183
SPEAK the voice for the animals: An anti-animal testing and research website: http://www.speakcampaigns.org.uk/badscience.php
Amazon Wish List:
Medical Firsts : From Hippocrates to the Human GenomeThe Timetables of Medicine : An Illustrated Chronology of the History of
Medicine from Prehistory to Present Times
by Gill
Davies, John
Cule