The Risks of Medical Innovation: Risk Perception and Assessment in Historical Context

Book Overview

The risks involved in introducing new drugs and devices are amongst the most discussed issues of modern medicine.

Presenting a new way of thinking about these issues, this volume considers risk and medical innovation from a social historical perspective, and studies specific cases of medical innovation, including X-rays, the pill and Thalidomide, in their respective contexts.

International cases are examined through the lens of a particular set of shared questions - highlighting differences, similarities, continuities and changes, and offering a historical sociology of risk. Particularly important is the re-conceptualization of dangers in terms of risk - a numerical and probabilistic approach allowing for seemingly objective and value-neutral decisions.

Read together, these papers add to our understanding of the current debate about risk and safety by providing a comparative background to the discussion, as well as a set of generally applicable criteria for analyzing and evaluating the contemporary issues surrounding medical innovation.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1138867942
• ISBN13: 9781138867949
• Release Date: April 2015
• Publisher: Routledge
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.1" x 9.2"