medical technology, 20th century

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Medicine of the 20th century saw an acceleration of knowledge and techniques, and an improvement in public health, although new challenges emerged. Technical developments offered new ways of viewing inside the body and its cells, aiding diagnosis; antibiotics were discovered; and new vaccines, drugs, and therapies developed. Computerization of research greatly enhanced the study of disease and health hazards. New surgical techniques included transplant and keyhole surgery. However, some developments produced further problems; thalidomide, for instance, prescribed for sickness in pregnancy, induced birth defects. Research had to be increasingly regulated, with stringent clinical trials to assess safety. Greater understanding of genetics also brought ethical problems, particularly those concerned with genetic engineering.

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