THE ADVANCEMENT OF MEDICINE

There are three stages in the advancement of health care.

First, there is the stage of Ignorance. Not much is known about what causes disease, and how to treat it. This was the situation in America during the 1930’s and 1940’s.

Second, there is the stage of Knowledge Gathering and Technological Solutions. That stage began during and after WWII. There was an explosion of knowledge of disease and ways to treat it.?

Along with that came greed. Big Pharma did not want to cure anyone; they just wanted to keep them on their meds for life. Dentists were happy that kids had cavities, so they could make money filling them.

The third stage is Prevention. If people are healthy and can stay that way, then the entire world works better. During the latter half of the 20th Century, vaccines prevented far more disease than any other modality. Birth Control prevented more unwanted children than ever before, and crime rates were seen to drop dramatically. The Absolute Control of Human Fertility is a great advance.

In the 21st Century, especially when America turns to a single payer system, doctors will be motivated to keep their panel of patients healthy. In that manner they will be able to lead more balanced lives, enjoying their children as they grow up, and having interests other than medicine. The shift is from making money to keeping people healthy. It turns out that it will cost a lot less, and families will have more time and money that healthcare ate up in the past.

When America’s health comes first, children will not have cavities. They will be prevented. Every child will be wanted, and that idea alone will improve the world dramatically. In the 20th Century, 300 million died of smallpox until it was eradicated, by using smallpox vaccine, in 1976. Since then, there have been zero cases of smallpox. When we prevent malaria, as we are about to do with a new vaccine, millions will survive who had died in the recent past. We must provide contraception to the mothers of these survivors, so they will not have more children than they can handle. Failing to do this in the past is what took the world population from 2 Billion in 1930 to 8 Billion in 2023.?

With everyone motivated to lead healthier lives, the world will be a happier place, and everyone will be more able to follow their dreams and function more effectively.