The Relationship between Medicine, Society and Technology.

It is difficult to pinpoint the beginning of the medical practice, in regards to the relationship between medicine, society, and technology. One could begin with the first classical physicians, Hippocrates (ca. 460 BC– 379 BC) and Galen (ca. 129 AD–216 AD). [1] In the history of medicine, Galen is regarded as the “father of the practitioner”. [1] He had an abundance of anatomical knowledge but was also known for performing difficult surgical operations, including the first brain surgery. [1] Until the eighteen-century, Hippocrates’s and Galen’s ideas and notes were regarded as the basis for medical knowledge. [1] Another milestone in medicine could be traced to the nineteenth century, when science was combined with the industrialization of the modern world, and technology came into the forefront with the emergence of electricity. Other milestones include the discovery of penicillin or the groundbreaking discovery of DNA. All of these discoveries have improved the role of medicine in today’s society. Over the last 50 years, we have accomplished more towards the field of science, particularly in medicine, than we have in the last 200 years. The mapping of the Human Genome was one of the greatest advancements in medicine and fostered a new focus in modern medicine – personalized and customized treatments. All of these advances have one thing in common – the emergence of technology. In today’s ever-evolving world, the role of medicine is more important then ever. The world is closely connected; diseases travel faster than we can assess them, however simultaneously information travels quicker. With the emergence of new technology, the advancement of medicine is increasing at an unprecedented rate, and in turn improving the quality of care while reducing the overall cost.
Before a medical device or a drug can enter the market, there are strict rules and regulations that must be met. Prior to passed government regulations, adequate research must be completed in order to