Introduction: Science-Fiction Medicine

Abstract

We never cease to hear about the great strides that modern medicine is making in its war against disease. The media and the various medical foundations trumpet one historic victory after another. What we hear less about are the results of these so-called advances on the health of the community in general, and their adverse effects, both biological and social. Unfortunately the optimism of the post-Second World War industrialized society has been characterized by a preoccupation with tracing the progress and achievements of its institutions, rather than their adequacy, their adverse effects, or their social and economic cost. In the scientific arena this has resulted in the illusion that humanity is making sustained progress and that any problems produced along the way are soluble by more technology. Even when the current use of science and technology (particularly by the transnational corporate giants) is described as inappropriate by those who have priorities which transcend the rules of the market place, the working of the medical-industrial complex often escapes scrutiny. In fact medicine is often singled out as one of the great gifts of modern science, and used as an exemplar of how technology helps mankind. What tends to be ignored is that the use of these methods in medicine has just as many, if not more, disadvantages and adverse effects as their use in other forms of human endeavour.