When I was a boy it seemed like there was a whole lot of emphasis on cures for dreaded diseases that were responsible for taking far too many lives. They were not just cures developed for us as Americans, no, they help CURE people all around the world!
Medical science and research were in this "golden age" of discovery where they took charge of owning specific diseases until they had actual cures. It did seem like breakthroughs were happening faster than they are today? This by the way, was the generation that put men on the moon (6 times)...just say'n.
Why is that?
Over the past 75 years, the list below represents the top fatal diseases that have been virtually irradiated from planet earth. Due to effective vaccines that could be sent from Boston to Bangladesh in time to help cure disease and save millions of lives...the bottom line is the men and women who invented these vaccines were purpose driven.
Diphtheria, Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps, Pertussis (whooping cough), Polio, Rubella (German measles), Tetanus (lockjaw), Varicella (chicken pox)
These were and still are wondrous accomplishments by men and women dedicated to the ethical and moral higher call for the CURE of their fellow man and not for the shear reason to make a buck...you know where I am going right? There is nothing wrong with profit when it is not the driving force behind medical discovery of disease?...Welcome to the generation of Viagra, Tylenol, My Pillow.com, NyQuil, Rogaine, Weight Watchers and so many others to make our lives easier, get thinner and suffer from less heart burn as well.
Many laudable and justifiable causes initiated by well intentioned people to fund an initiatives for discovering cures and treatments for cancer, diabetes and heart problems are now smothered under huge infrastructures. The mission pivots to how to keep the funding coming in to support the infrastructures, jobs, better buildings and oh yes...the research.
It looks like the vanity angle is out of the gates and taking the lead in this decade. When we look back at the notable scientific discoveries in this generation, I am afraid to say the Maddison Avenue approach to healthcare will reap more serious issues than they were actually worth....let's get involved to make real changes one patient at a time to assure the right cure for the right reason.