The Science of Human Perfection: How Genes Became the Heart of American Medicine

By: Nathaniel Comfort

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Synopsis: Almost daily we hear news stories, advertisements, and scientific reports promising that genetic medicine will make us live longer, enable doctors to identify and treat diseases before they harm us, and individualize our medical care. But surprisingly, a century ago eugenicists were making the same promises. This book traces the history of the promises of medical genetics and of the medical dimension of eugenics. While mindful of the benefits of genetic medicine, the book also considers social and ethical issues that cast troublesome shadows over these fields. Keeping his focus on America, Nathaniel Comfort introduces the community of scientists, physicians, and public health workers who have contributed to the development of medical genetics from the nineteenth century to today. He argues that medical genetics is closely related to eugenics, and indeed that the two cannot be fully understood separately. He also carefully examines how the desire to relieve suffering and to improve ourselves genetically, though noble, may be subverted. History makes clear that as patients and consumers we must take ownership of genetic medicine, using it intelligently, knowledgeably, and skeptically.

Book Quality:: Publisher Quality
ISBN-13:: 9780300188875
Related ISBNs:: 9780300169911
Publisher:: Yale University Press
Date of Addition:: 09/19/12
Copyrighted By:: Nathaniel Comfort
Adult content:: No
Language:: English
Has Image Descriptions:: No
Categories:: History, Nonfiction, Science, Health, Mind and Body, Law, Legal Issues and Ethics, Medicine
Submitted By:: Bookshare Staff
Usage Restrictions:: This is a copyrighted book.