Risks of Medical Innovation

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