Modern medicine

Role of Government and Public Expectations in Modern Medicine

• Governments moved from a laissez-faire approach to active involvement in public health.
• Public expectations after WWII pushed for government-supported healthcare, leading to the NHS in 1948.

Establishment and Core Components of the NHS

• Launched in 1948 to provide free hospital care, treatments, vaccinations, and screenings.
• Aimed to eliminate financial barriers to healthcare access.

Short and Long-term Impacts of the NHS

• Short-term: More people accessed doctors

Early Challenges of the NHS

• Hospitals were not improved immediately.
• Prescription charges were introduced due to funding issues.

Role of William Beveridge in the NHS

• Authored the 1942 Beveridge Report advocating a comprehensive health service.

Connection Between Lifestyle and Health

• Smoking, diet, and exercise are major health factors.
• Linked to conditions like heart disease and lung cancer.

Lifestyle-related Diseases and Prevention

• Health campaigns promote prevention and lifestyle changes.
• Smoking bans and tobacco taxes reduced lung cancer rates.

Health Education and Government Campaigns

• Educate the public on health risks and encourage healthier habits.
• Bans on cigarette advertising further reduced smoking rates.

Mass Vaccination Programs in the UK

• Government-funded programs eliminated diseases like polio.
• Vaccinations became compulsory and accessible through the NHS.

Public Health Legislation and Disease Prevention

• Health Acts and Clean Air Acts aimed to reduce disease and improve living conditions.
• These reflect evolving societal values and scientific knowledge.

Technological Advancements in Diagnostics

• MRI, CT scans, and x-rays enable early and accurate diagnosis.
• Bronchoscopy helps identify lung conditions.

Modern Lung Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

• Diagnosis: CT scans, bronchoscopy.
• Treatment: Surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapies.

Limitations of Early Lung Cancer Diagnosis

• Relied on x-rays that often misdiagnosed abscesses as tumors.

Magic Bullets and Antibiotics Development

• Magic bullets targeted specific microbes but had side effects.
• Antibiotics like penicillin revolutionized infection treatment.

Penicillin Discovery and Mass Production

• Discovered by Alexander Fleming.
• Mass-produced by Florey, Chain, and US firms using freeze-drying.

Historical Significance of Antibiotics

• Reduced mortality from bacterial infections and transformed medicine.

Challenges in Developing New Treatments

• Drug resistance and emerging diseases complicate remedies.
• Lifestyle factors remain outside medical control.

Advancements in Surgical Technology

• Keyhole surgery and radiotherapy improved outcomes and recovery.
• Surgery is now less invasive and more precise.

Evolution of Surgical Techniques

• Modern tech allows minimally invasive operations.
• Improved patient safety and effectiveness.

Role of DNA in Understanding Disease

• DNA discoveries revealed genetic causes for many diseases.
• Shifted understanding from purely microbial to hereditary causes.

Discovery of DNA’s Structure and Medical Impact

• Identified in 1953 as a double helix.
• Paved the way for genetic screening and research.

Human Genome Project and Biotechnology

• Mapped human genes (1990–2000), helping identify hereditary diseases.
• Biotech advances allow targeted therapies and personalized medicine.

Hereditary Diseases and Prevention

• Conditions like cystic fibrosis and Down syndrome have genetic links.
• Early screening enables preventative action.

Importance of Genetics in Disease Prevention

• Identifying harmful genes allows preventive surgeries and lifestyle adjustments.

Big Science and International Collaboration

• Involves global scientific teamwork and tech to solve major medical problems.
• Examples: Human Genome Project, penicillin production.

Factors Driving Change in Modern Medicine (1900–present)

• War, government action, science and tech, public expectations, industry involvement, and lifestyle awareness.

Impact of World War II on Medicine

• Advanced surgical practices.
• Increased demand for state-supported healthcare after wartime assistance.

Challenges of Lifestyle-related Illnesses

• Smoking and poor diet contribute to diseases like cancer.
• Addressed through government policy and public education.

Quarantine and Outbreak Control

• Quarantine used during outbreaks, e.g., Ebola, to control disease spread.

Role of Technology in Disease Diagnostics

• Tech like MRI and CT scans transform how diseases are diagnosed and treated.

Impact of Cigarette Advertising Ban (2005)

• Reduced smoking promotion and helped lower smoking rates.

Effect of Increased Prescription Charges

• Highlighted funding issues in the NHS and sparked debates on healthcare access.

Consequences of Improved Access to Healthcare

• Increased use of NHS services, but also longer waiting times.

Historical Context of Public Health Legislation

• Public health laws evolved with scientific understanding and social priorities.

Importance of Teamwork in Scientific Discovery

• Collaboration led to major breakthroughs like the structure of DNA and mass drug production.