Inventing Pain Medicine: From the Laboratory to the Clinic

摘要: Pain is a pervasive subject in our culture - especially as something to be combatted and conquered. This text explores the current state of pain medicine against background its historical development. Based on extensive field research, study outlines first tentative steps control taken last years World War II, when young American anaesthesiologist, John J. Bonica, made alleviating wounded soldiers his mission. Baszanger traces Bonica's protracted pioneering struggle for recognition worthy medical attention itself, definition more than diagnostic tool, including differentiation types modes treatment, establishment specialized multidisciplinary clinics. also provides an in-depth comparative analysis divergent approaches toward treatment at two clinics France, taking into account her observations consultation sessions well many interviews with physicians, clinic staff patients. Her ethnographic enquiries are anchored socio-historical reflections social conceptual transformations which were necessary make invention possible. She explains why sufferers chronic had wait until end 20th century find physicians specializing alleviation their condition.