This is an old revision of the document!
Medicine
Hippocrates, ancient Greek physician who lived during Greece's Classical period is traditionally regarded as the father of modern medicine, which is based on observation of clinical signs and rational conclusions, and does not rely on religious or magical beliefs.
The Hippocratic Oath contains the Pythagorean duties of justice, secrecy, respect for teachers and solidarity with peers. The clinical and ethical basics of medical practice as well as most clinical terms used even today have their origins in Hippocrates. His contribution in clinical medicine is immense.
As the founder of the Methodic School, Asclepiades was the first known physician who spoke about what is known today as molecular medicine.
American Medical System History
AMA Archive 1860 History of Medicine in America p22 “It was not until 1760 that the General Assembly of New York ordained that “no person whatsoever should practice as physician or surgeon, in the city of New York, before he shall have been examined on physic and surgery, and approved of and admitted by one of His Majesty's Council, the Judges of the Supreme Court, the King's Attorney General and the Mayor of the city of New York for the time being, or by any three or more of them taking to their assistance for such examination, such proper person or persons as they in their discretion shall see fit”
The American Medical Association
The AMA is a professional association and lobbying group of physicians and medical students. Their publication is Journal of the American Medical Association JAMA
An 1845 resolution to the New York Medical Association by Dr. Nathan S. Davis, calling for a national medical convention, led to the establishment of the American Medical Association AMA in 1847. Scientific advancement, standards for medical education, launching a program of medical ethics, improved public health — these were the goals of the AMA.
Since its founding in 1847 the AMA has played a crucial role in the development of medicine in the United States. Here’s a look at some key historical dates:
*1873* AMA Judicial Council founded to deal with medical ethical and constitutional controversies.
*1883* Journal of the American Medical Association is first published; Nathan Davis is first editor.
*1906* AMA publishes first American Medical Directory listing over 128,000 licensed physicians in the U.S. and Canada.
*1910* The Flexner Report, Medical Education in the United States and Canada, funded by the Carnegie Foundation and supported by the AMA, is published and facilitates new standards for medical schools
*1927* AMA Council on Medical Education and Hospitals publishes –»first list of hospitals approved for residency training«–
*1943* AMA opens an office in Washington, D.C
*1950* AMA Education and Research Foundation established to help medical schools meet expenses and to help medical students.
*1966* AMA publishes first edition of the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT), a system of standardized terms for medical procedures used to facilitate documentation.
*1967* The United States Adopted Names (USAN) Council is established to determine nonproprietary designations for chemical compounds.
*1990* AMA Fellowship Residency Electronic Interactive Data Access System (FREIDA) describing residency programs in the United States is available in electronic form.
*2008* Ronald M. Davis, MD, then the AMA's immediate past president, apologizes for more than a century of AMA policies that excluded African-Americans from the AMA and that also barred them from some state and local medical societies.
https://web.archive.org/web/20181207111306/https://www.ama-assn.org/about/ama-history/ama-history
Pharmaceutical Industry
*1849* AMA establishes a board to analyze quack remedies and nostrums and to enlighten the public in regard to the nature and danger of such remedies. The Department of Investigation (1913-1975) gathered and disseminated health fraud and quackery information for the public for over 60 years
*1905* AMA establishes a council to set standards for drug manufacturing and advertising
*1923* AMA promotes periodic examination of healthy persons
*1961* AMA recommends a nationwide vaccination using the Sabin oral vaccine against polio.
*1972* AMA launches war on smoking, urging the government to reduce and control the use of tobacco products and supporting legislation prohibiting the disbursement of tobacco samples.
*1973* AMA urges physicians to cooperate in a national program to combat hypertension.
*1986* AMA passes resolution opposing acts of discrimination against AIDS patients and any legislation that would lead to such categorical discrimination or that would affect patient-physician confidentiality.
*1996* AMA launches a crusade against health plan “gag clauses,” resulting in these restrictive provisions being dropped by 5 leading managed care providers and laws prohibiting gag clauses in 16 states.
*1997* AMA launches the National Patient Safety Foundation to help ensure that all patients in all health care settings receive health care services safely.
*2005* AMA spearheads effort with 129 other health care and patient groups, which results in the passage and signing of the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act.
https://web.archive.org/web/20181207111306/https://www.ama-assn.org/about/ama-history/ama-history
American Medical Schools
AMA Archive 1950 History of Medicine
p 14 “The medical profession in the United States, and indeed, throughout the civilized world, constitutes an important part of society; for while, on the one hand its ranks can boast, not only of names of the highest eminence in every department of science and literature, but can also claim to be equal with the foremost in every enterprise for extending human knowledge, and ameliorating human suffering, its free access to the homes and firesides of all classes, gives it a moral and social influence of the most potent character.”
p 19 “A Guide in Small Pox and Measles” published in 1677 is said to be the first medical publication in America.