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MEDICIN |  |
Medicine
in the 20th century
In the 20th century the cell
membrane which is a semi-permeable membrane dividing the interior of the
cell from the space beyond it, hid the function of individual cells out
of which the organism of every living creature is composed. We diagnosed
the changes that arose inside the cell on the basis of details observed
in the space outside the cell, that is, in the blood serum, in urine,
in the medullar fluid of the brain and other forms of discharge. In the
21st century doctors will be able to rely on the direct examination of
deleterious processes that arise inside the cell in the course of various
diseases.
In the near future the routine treatment of more than just genetic diseases
will become possible due to the ability to influence a typical and separate
genetic structure for every person. In this way it will be possible to
eliminate various types of threats arising from inherent predilections
for cancer of the stomach, cancer of the lungs and various diseases of
the blood and many other life threatening diseases.
Progress in medical biotechnology will allow for the cloning of various
body parts or entire organs whose transplant will not demand continual
treatment for organ rejection that lowers natural resistance. The parliaments
of many countries of the world and nearly all its religions are against
the cloning of humans, seeing in cloning an act against nature. It is
not possible to exclude however, that fanatical scientists guided by an
obsession to discover new truths, will experiment and create a human designed
specifically according to physique and psyche. Such a prospect might be
fascinating for people requiring a change of used body parts or organs
though on the other hand, the breaking of ancient natural laws of nature,
described as a God given right (which always evoked a reaction from the
natural environment that was often tragic for mankind) is frightening.
In further deliberations it is not possible to exclude the formation of
planned classes of geniuses and pariahs. The illness of maintaining power
could cause the dependence of science on politics that up to now, was
always tied to the conquest of weaker nations.
The education system in medicine must change in the 21st century. Diagnosis
will be based on laboratory research and use of electronic devices. Determining
diseases will be done by appropriate computer programs. Maybe robots will
complete surgical operations. Thick tomes of mostly outdated textbooks
will become unnecessary as will learning the symptoms of various diseases
and names of medicines by heart. Specifically programmed computers will
determine the correct diagnosis and indicate the best treatment. Medicine
will cease to be an art demanding great knowledge, experience and often,
intuition. The threat of dehumanisation in medicine is observable today
and more and more often, there are discernable warnings of the consequences
of uncontrolled progress of medical science.
The answer to the question whether the average life span will increase
is uncertain. According to some, man's life has for centuries been coded
for around the age of 80. The fact that enormous funds spent on the protection
of health do not translate into the lengthening of active life testifies
to this. Progress in the treatment of diseases is and will be very great
but the slowing down of vivaporous processes relating to the wearing out
of particular organs, is a much more difficult problem.
It is most likely that research and medicine in the 21st century will
aim towards an essential strengthening of the mechanisms of natural resistance,
among others, through various kinds of transplants. In the European Union
it was decided that it wasn't necessary to vaccinate animals against foot
and mouth disease, which after a short period brought about an epidemic
of this disease in England. On the basis of less and less effective antibiotic
therapy we realise that it will never be possible to eliminate the presence
of disease-causing viruses, bacteria or fungi from our environment. Man
must live with them. Having one’s own natural and strong defence mechanisms
will not permit an invasion of those microbes or parasites that always
threaten our health or life.
A separate issue is that of the law lagging behind and associated ethical
problems in the avalanche of new discoveries in medicine. Only John Paul
II clearly formulated his stand in various ethical-moral matters. It is
a great pity that not all agree with the opinion of This Great Thinker
and act not in accord with His teaching, that is, who go against the laws
of nature.
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