Post-modern medicine

In a characteristically provocative article Muir Gray (Gray, 1999) describes the features of what he calls post-modern medicine - a distrust of science, a readiness to resort to litigation, a greater attention to risk and better access to information (of whatever quality). He also points out, as indeed have many commentators, how consumer and patient values have already replaced paternalistic and professional values, and where doctors used to lead, they now follow. The monolithic role of the doctor has been challenged by lay experts, whose ability to influence public debate and policy increases just as that of the doctor or scientist diminishes - the lay expert may be the survivor of a disaster or the sufferer from a disease (Bury, 1998). The Gulf War veteran may fulfil both roles. 

Miller, B. C. (1994, June 6). Post-polio syndrome in mountain communities. The Journal of Modern Medicine, 86, 1299-1302. Retrieved April 1995, from DIALOG database ( 321, Modern Medicine) on the World Wide Web http// www.dialogweb.com... 

Integration of novel and traditional scenarios to develop nano-devices allows an improvement of conventional engineering applications with modern nanotechnologies such as molecular-electronics, which can be applied to develop devices for the post CMOS era, such as solar cells, catalysis, sensing, chemical and biological defense and security, biotechnology, medicine and photo-electronics. 

Meperidine is an older opioid analgesic with typical annoying and occasionally serious adverse events such as respiratory depression. It is also associated with significant risks of cortical irritahility and potential neurotoxicity. Meperidine may provide useful relief of visceral pain, post-operative shivering, and sickle cell crisis-related pain however, because of its adverse event profile, its role in modern pain medicine is becoming increasingly limited [4]. 

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