Preserving the Chronicles of Moral Standards in Medicine
In the annals of medical history, the narrative has traditionally focused on "doctors, drugs, and diseases," often highlighting discoveries and innovations made by white male doctors. However, a growing movement is challenging this narrow perspective, shedding light on stories that have been overlooked for far too long.
One such story revolves around the segregation of Black patients from their white counterparts. This separation, driven by false dichotomies, led to systems that alienated them from their families, forced them to perform hard labor under the guise of therapy, and segregated them within medical institutions. Kylie Smith's research reveals that psychiatrists caring for Black patients often created these false dichotomies about emotional and psychological issues between Black and white patients.
Another overlooked story is the underrepresentation of disabled people in medical history. Despite constituting roughly a quarter of the population, disabled individuals are frequently under medical care but have been absent from the historical record. Katrina Jirik suggests that disabled people are a rich part of medical history when one goes looking for them. The voices of disabled people are often missing from the archival record, muted, and silenced by the voices of prominent actors.
The experiences of women and minorities, whether as patients or health professionals, are equally part of the history of medicine. National Negro Health Week, a grassroots initiative in the early 20th century that merged public health and racial justice efforts, is a missing story from traditional histories of medicine. The Black Lives Matter movement has led medical centres across the country to reexamine their own racist behaviours, further highlighting the need to include diverse perspectives in medical history.
In the realm of medical ethics, the book "Do Less Harm: Ethical Questions for Health Historians," authored by Sol Cohen and John Harley Warner, is challenging traditional narratives. The author, Barron H. Lerner, is uncertain if all history must pursue social justice, but acknowledges its importance in forcing us to confront our complicated past and in finding previously unavailable information. Lerner also contributes to a book on the history of medical ethics that focuses on serving social justice.
However, the push for inclusivity and diversity in medical history is not without controversy. President Trump issued an executive order seeking to challenge narratives that portray American and Western values as inherently harmful and oppressive. This order led to concerns about the potential removal or rewriting of material deemed objectionable by Trump's administration.
Exhibits on the brutality of slavery and the public whipping of escaped slaves are under threat of removal. Concerns have been raised about an exhibit at Louisiana's Cane River Creole National Park that describes these practices and gives the names of the enslavers who carried out the beatings. Similarly, an exhibit on the brutality of slavery at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia is under threat of removal.
A social justice approach to history has started asking questions about the ethical duties of museums that house medical specimens, usually "abnormal" body parts obtained decades or centuries ago for display. This approach emphasizes the need for transparency, even if one objects to the focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
In conclusion, the history of medicine is undergoing a significant shift, with a growing emphasis on inclusivity and diversity. While this shift may be met with controversy, it is crucial in ensuring that all voices are heard and all stories are told, providing a more comprehensive and accurate understanding of the history of medicine.
Read also:
- Eight strategies for promoting restful slumber in individuals with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- Exploring the Strength of Minimally Digestible Diets: A Roadmap to Gastrointestinal Healing
- Secondhand Smoke: Understanding its Nature, Impact on Health, and Additional Facts
- Overseeing and addressing seizure-induced high blood pressure complications in pregnancy, known as eclampsia
