The Rise and Fall of Modern Medicine

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In the years following World War II, medicine achieved significant victories against diseases like smallpox, diphtheria, and polio, while also developing treatments for conditions such as Parkinson's, rheumatoid arthritis, and schizophrenia. Innovations like open-heart surgery, organ transplants, and test-tube babies emerged during this time, marking a high point in medical achievement. However, progress has notably stagnated in recent decades. In this award-winning work, medical doctor and columnist James Le Fanu examines the remarkable advancements of the postwar era and investigates the factors that have contributed to a widening gap between past achievements and current advancements. He explores the impact of social theories, ethical dilemmas, and political debates on healthcare, which have hindered vaccine development and the search for new "miracle" cures. While highlighting the extraordinary progress made in the latter half of the twentieth century, Le Fanu also warns of the challenges facing medicine today. Accompanied by 16 pages of black-and-white photographs, this work offers a critical perspective on the notion of medicine as an endless source of miraculous solutions, presenting important insights that have often been overlooked.