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Iatrogenesis literally means "brought forth by a healer" (iatros means healer in Greek); as such, it can refer to good or bad effects, but it is almost exclusively used to refer to the causation of a state of ill health or adverse effect or complication caused by or resulting from medical treatment. From a sociological point of view there are three types of iatrogenesis, clinical iatrogenesis, social iatrogenesis, and cultural iatrogenesis. While iatrogenesis is most often used to refer to the harmful consequences of actions by physicians, it can equally be the result of actions by other medical professionals, such as psychologists, therapists, pharmacists, nurses, dentists. etc. Further, iatrogenic illness or death is not restricted to Western medicine: alternative medicine (sometimes referred to as complementary medicine) may be considered an equal source of iatrogenesis for the same reasons.
History
Since Hippocrates's time, the potential damaging effect of a healer's actions has been recognized. The old mandate "first do no harm" (primum non nocere) is an important clause of medical ethics, and iatrogenic illness or death caused purposefully, or by avoidable error or negligence on the healer's part became a punishable offence in many civilizations.
With the development of scientific medicine in the 20th century, it could be expected that iatrogenic illness or death would be more easily avoided. With the discovery of antiseptics, anesthesia, antibiotics, and new and better surgical techniques, iatrogenic mortality decreased enormously.
More on [ Iatrogenesis ]
Introducing iatrogenesis to someone is always strange - most people find it hard to believe just how many people doctors kill each year.
ashleymoran (Ashley Moran) Tue, 22 Dec 2009 01:29:40 -0000
Introducing iatrogenesis to someone is always strange - most people find it hard to believe just how many people doctors kill each year.
A motion control test film and super cool dance video from "Iatrogenesis" Rambert Dance Company: http://vimeo.com/7393690
wendyschuyler (Wendy Wertz Schuyler) Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:00:46 -0000
A motion control test film and super cool dance video from "Iatrogenesis" Rambert Dance Company: http://vimeo.com/7393690
American Iatrogenic Association - Studies and reports on illness caused by the medical profession. Despite the rare public discussion of iatrogenic illness, it is a significant cause of disease and death for Americans... Time magazine has reported one estimate that 80,000 people are killed annually by doctors and medical treatments. That is about twice the number of Americans killed each year in car accidents.
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