Commentary on medical news by a practicing physician.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Now Accepting Nominations: For the greatest medical innovation since 1840. Many have nominated antibiotics, which I would say is hands down the greatest.
I'm voting for the breakthrough of effective contraceptive pills. In terms of changing society as whole it has allowed us to delay childbirth, marriage, and limit number of offspring. Women now outnumber men in terms of seeking higher level degrees. Not all of this is due to one pill, of course, but with 2/3 of my friends being on it...daily/weekly/monthly/etc. I would say it has had the most profound effect overall.
I'm voting for the breakthrough of effective contraceptive pills. In terms of changing society as whole it has allowed us to delay childbirth, marriage, and limit number of offspring. Women now outnumber men in terms of seeking higher level degrees. Not all of this is due to one pill, of course, but with 2/3 of my friends being on it...daily/weekly/monthly/etc. I would say it has had the most profound effect overall.
ReplyDelete