Drawing Blood - Technology and Disease Identity in Twentieth-Century America

In Drawing Blood, medical historian Keith Wailoo uses the story of blood diseases to explain how physicians in this century wielded medical technology to define disease, carve out medical specialties, and shape political agendas. As Wailoo's account makes clear, the seemingly straightforward process of identifying disease is invariably influenced by personal, professional, and social factors -- and the result is not only clarity and precision but also bias and outright error. Drawing Blood reveals the ways in which physicians and patients as well as diseases are simultaneously shaping and being shaped by technology, medical professionalization, and society at large. This thought-provoking cultural history of disease, medicine, and technology offers a perspective that is invaluable in understanding current discussions of HIV and AIDS, genetic blood testing, prostatespecific antigen, and other important issues in an age of technological medicine.

About the author

Keith Wailoo is an associate professor in the Department of Social Medicine and the Department of History at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Product details

• Authors: Wailoo, Keith Wailoo, Keith (Professor of History Wailoo
• Publisher: University Presses
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 16.04.1999
• EAN: 9780801861819
• ISBN: 978-0-8018-6181-9
• Dimensions: 152 mm x 229 mm x 19 mm
• Weight: 425 g
• Series: Henry E. Sigerist Series in th; The Henry E. Sigerist Series in the History of Medicine; The Henry E. Sigerist the Hist
• Subjects: Guides > Self-help, everyday life > Family; Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Medicine > General; USA, MEDICAL / Public Health, MEDICAL / History, MEDICAL / Hematology, MEDICAL / Preventive Medicine, History of Medicine, United States of America, USA, Public health & preventive medicine, Haematology, Public health and preventive medicine