Medical Technology in Todays Society Essay Example for Free

Medical Technology in Todays Society Essay Medical technology in todays society is often seen as a treatment or cure for human health issues. The term medical technology refers to the diagnostic or therapeutic application of science to improve the management of health. Unfortunately, the negative impacts of this technology are often left unexposed to the public until too late. Medicine, such as drugs, is often perceived to be of benefit to humans as it is used to cure various diseases. On the other hand, medicine can also be highly damaging. Using medicine incorrectly; consuming it in small dosages, in excess, or using it abusively; can be injurious to peoples health. Modern medical technology can also be damaging for human well-being but this effect is not restricted to health. Throughout time people have become increasingly reliant on modern medicine. This is especially so in todays modern society. Medical intervention by use of technology has been able to help prolong many lives. An example of this is those who suffer from asthma. These sufferers may use air purifiers and/or nebulizers along with prescribed medication to help them live more comfortable and longer lives. It can be deemed a miracle that we are able to help so many people overcome their illnesses with medical technology. The current technologies available are able to do incredible things but people must be constantly aware of other modern technologies that can interfere and put the patient at risk. An example of this is the pacemaker which has the ability to save a persons life and ultimately extend it. However, external factors can interfere with medical technology and ultimately put the patient at risk. For example, radiation from everyday items such as microwaves to wireless devices such as mobile phones can affect the operation of the pace maker. Thus medical technology has a negative impact on the user of this device as it places environmental limitations on where he or she can go. Users of such a device therefore need to be continuously wary of their environment. In addition, the implementation of a pace maker prevents users from undertaking MRI scans as the process interferes with the function of the device. This is a prime example of medicine acting against itself, All medical technology needs to be treated and used with caution. Respirators need to be constant monitored and the same applies for the simplest drips. Hospitals nowadays are equipped with technology that requires the operating knowledge of hospital staff and medical professionals. The medical technology that is used in hospitals needs to be carefully monitored. Misuse could lead to an accident that has the possibility to cause a long term negative effect for the patient. It is due to the above reason that today, proficient clinical settings require the consistent expertise of all medical staff in relation to the operation of medical technology. Medical technology was invented for our health and well being. However there is always the risk of unforeseen consequences. An example of this is LASIK (Laser-Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis) eye surgery, an operation where a patient has his or her vision corrected. Eyesight clinics advertised that the operation would improve a persons vision and give freedom to those who did not like wearing glasses or contacts all the time. Before user a laser to correct the vision the operation required the practitioner to cut open the patients corner. During the trial stages of the operation, this procedure led to several unsuccessful results where the patients suffered from extremely dry eyes, milky vision and poorer eyesight than prior to the operation. Other disastrous results included foggy visions, starbursts around lights and double vision. These after effects negatively impacted the lives of the patients greatly as they now had worse vision than prior to the operation. However, it is thanks to researchers that the medical technology in this field has advanced to a level where the risks are now minimal. These professionals are currently working on a new method of corrective eye surgery where it will not be necessary to cut open the cornea before lasik surgery is used. There will be even less of a chance that things will go wrong if the answer to this problem is found. The Gamma Ray, used to eliminate cancerous cells around the brain without the use of open surgery, is another example where medical technology could have negative effects. Its intention was to cure people with cancerous cells in places of high risk or in places that could not be safely accessed by open surgery. The risk lies in the calculation of the amount of radiation that is directed at the cancer. If there is a miscalculation the laser may destroy the cancer and other cells around it, leading to brain damage. From these two examples one can see that there is a limit to how medical technology can be used. Drugs created by medical technology are intended to help humans recover from their illness or improve their condition, however they are harmful if taken in small dosages, in excess or if used in the wrong way. For example if more that 400mg of vitamin E if is taken a day it will act as a blood thinner. Large doses of vitamin A causes heart problems. An overdose of cold and fly medications can lead to liver failure. Medicine, such as antibiotics are often perceived to be of benefit to humans as it is commonly used to treat bacterial infectious diseases. On the other hand, antibiotics can have unpleasant consequences if taken in dosages that do not completely eradicate the pathogen, thereby contributing to resistance. Antibiotics can also be used abusively when physicians prescribe the drug unnecessarily or if patients become complacent and do not adhere to the necessary antibiotic therapy. From these examples it is easy to see that medicines can cause adverse effects if taken in excess, small dosages or if used in the wrong way. Lack of funding for medical technology can cause negative effects on the genetic fitness of populations. It can bring about misleading information to the creation of a cure. As new diseases are constantly emerging, doctors, scientists and researchers need to know as much information about the sickness before they can find a cure. They need to know specific information such as the lifespan of the offending pathogen, if the disease is a virus, the exact signs and symptoms and the genetic make up before they can start research on the cure. However, lack of funds means that research projects may be delayed or even stopped before a cure is found. Researchers need the money so that they will have access to proper equipment and resources. Without it, they may not be able to conclude a research project that has the potential to find information that will lead to a cure. A major issue in medical technology is regulation. Ethical considerations need to be recognised and evaluated before research can continue. Also the lack of funding also means that cures cannot be tested thoroughly. All cures, whether they are over the counter drugs or prescription medications to medical technology (electronic thermometers), need to be thoroughly tested before they can be passed onto the market or used safely by professionals. In addition, the testing regimes may incur societal backlash due to experimentation on animals. As a result, lack of funds can prevent cures from being formed and this negatively impacts the public. Medical technology is very important for those with diseases and those who are ill or injured. For people with asthma a breathing machine may be essential for life, without it breathing may become difficult and even dangerous. Medical technology can add years to our lives and can make life better. It enables us to live past the normal expectancy of life. Technology has so many benefits. Without it we would not be able to travel, contact others around the world, entertain, or educate as well as we do. Medical technology is perhaps the most important technology of all.

The Complexity of Marjane Satrapis Persepolis Essay -- Muslim Women

If a person were to hastily flip through the pages of Marjane Satrapi’s graphic novel Persepolis, using only eyes to judge, the book could easily be put off as just another piece of literary fluff. Their inner literary critic might utter a perplexed gasp and their mind might reel with the wonder at how they happened upon something that was surely intended for the children’s comic book section. With any further examination of the book’s literary content and the power of its simplified artwork, however, such an easy to assume accusation shows through as fatally incorrect. Persepolis is the memoir of a young woman growing up in the decimating national conflicts of 1970s Iran depicted alongside an unexpectedly, simplified artwork style. At first it may appear that this is done only for the sake of unique marketability or because it is merely Satrapi’s natural drawing style. A deeper examination, however, will reveal that â€Å"†¦a form of amplification through simplification† (McCloud, 30) is achieved and visual support is given to the text in a manner that realistic or more â€Å"serious† art could not accomplish. Though simplified in its artistic approach, Persepolis is anything but simplified in content. When a writer chooses to include illustrations in a piece of literature, the first task is to decide the level of abstraction/ realism the art will present. In Persepolis’ case, a simplified art style works best, as it amplifies only the primary features of the text, unlike realism which would be far more focused on social details. Given the book’s heavy subject matter (of both a war beyond massive devastation and the metamorphosis of a girl caught in its trauma), Persepolis has a great deal of information to cover in t... ...captivating and personally significant aspects of her experience. Through generality and a lack of explicit realism, Satrapi invigorates the book’s deeper messages in a manner that extends beyond the written word and into conceptual imagery. â€Å"By de-emphasizing the appearance of the physical world†¦the cartoon places itself in the world of concepts† (McCloud 41), concepts that convey the subjective, but still far too true life of Marjane Satrapi. This simplified and symbolic universe is not Iran or Austria or France; it is Marjane’s Persepolis. Works Cited McCloud, Scott. Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art. New York: HyperCollins Publishers, 1993. Print Strapi, Marjane. Persepolis: The Story of Childhood. Paris, France: L’Association, 2003. Print. Strapi, Marjane. Persepolis 2: The Story of Return. Paris, France: L’Association, 2004.Print

Rommel and Eisenhower

Complexity Within Simplicity The battle itself took the duration of a few days but was one of the most intense and fearsome battles in all of WWII. It took place in North Africa between the Allies (British + Americans) and the Axis (German+ Italian) powers. The battle was called the Battle of El Alamein and it held a high significance since it took place in Alam el Halfa, which is next to the Suez Canal that was the Allies’ main means of transporting and receiving food.This was essentially a last stand for the allies as the German-Italian forces kept advancing and conquering and showed no signs of stopping until all of Africa was under their control. However, they were stopped by the by two major generals- Eisenhower and Montgomery who led the allies to victory in North Africa. Though the battle itself was fierce, it was the military tactics and mentalities of Erwin Rommel, Dwight Eisenhower, and Bernard Montgomery that made it so interesting and complex. Bernard Montgomery wa s put in charge of the Eighth Army, while the main general in command for the Allies was Dwight Eisenhower.Winston Churchill assigned them both their positions. On the 30 of August 1942, Erwin Rommel (the German Commander) attacked the Eighth Army at Alam el Halfa (â€Å"The Battle of El Alamein†). The battle consisted of mostly soldiers from Germans and Italians versus the British and the Americans. It was crucial for the Allies to hold their position at Alam el Halfa because that was where the Suez Canal was located. (The Suez Canal was the supply route for the Allies so if they lost their foothold over it, they would have lost their supplies and the last firm grasp that they had in the continent of North Africa.Also, it would become extremely tough for them to regain after losing it and still be able to push back the Germans, â€Å"The Battle of El Alamein†). The Allies likewise followed the same strategy-to cut off the German supply route (â€Å"The Battle of El A lamein†). The Allies withstood the attack and fortified their defenses. They increased their army size and weaponry (tanks) and soon the German men were outnumbered 110,000 to 200,000 and their tanks outnumbered 500 to 1,0000 (â€Å"The Battle of El Alamein†). Despite the outnumbered battalions, Rommel stood and fought.Being a high-prestige, high ranked Field Marshall, Rommel understood how battles worked. After all, the road to his rank of Field Marshall was not easy. Rommel first took part in battle during WWI against the Italians. One of his most famous achievements was on Lucia Savogna road, In Italy. It was indeed a remarkable feat. Rommel and his men had been marching and quickly conquering their way into parts of Italy and destroying any resistance that came with it. After cutting deep into Italy, and stopping at a village named Luico, his army decided to rest briefly and let the rest of the army units and reinforcements catch up.Then, one of the men spotted some thing in the distance moving towards them. Rommel told one of his men to check out the surrounding sight. After checking, he told Rommel that several resistance forces of the Italian military were on their way towards them. Rommel quickly spread this information with all of his soldiers and told them to prepare for battle. Though Rommel’s men only numbered to about 150, Rommel knew he had to stand. It was a huge gamble at the time because had they lost the battle, Rommel’s campaign would’ve ended and the remaining reinforcements that were on their way, also would’ve been destroyed.However, Rommel took the gamble, and positioned machine guns around the site of the battle, and ordered his men to shoot on his cue. After the Italian army (numbering to about 2,000 men) arrived. A messenger was sent to Rommel to reconsider his decision and stand down. However, Rommel refused to do such a thing. Soon after, Rommel blew his whistle and opened fire. Within minutes , the Italian resistance had been disintegrated and crushed. Rommel’s enemy had lost their entire army to an army less than one-tenth of their size (SHOWALTER, DENNIS. â€Å"What Made Rommel ROMMEL†).Rommel’s decision had been a huge gamble but being the intelligent leader that he was, he understood the importance of winning and how he needed to win the battle at any cost. During the battle of El Alamein, Rommel’s army had pushed the allies to near defeat: conquering most of North Africa, then proceeding to expel the allies from Africa by cutting off their supply line from the Suez Canal, near El Alamein. Rommel’s favorite attack strategy for most battles was a sort of entrapment. He would create a hollow circle with his battalions and leave the center of the circle open.In this manner, he would fool his enemies into landing into the center, and fighting outwards. Most of Rommel’s enemies figured that Rommel wouldn’t suspect such an a ttack, but in reality, this would be Rommel’s plan all along (Paris, Michael. â€Å"El Alamein, The People's Battle). After landing in the center of the circle, Rommel would encircle his enemy with his forces and crush them. Rommel had planned to use this method of entrapment against the allies at the battle of El Alamein. However, General Montgomery and Eisenhower, the two main generals in charge of the battle of El Alamein during WWII were well aware of Rommel’s strategy.When Rommel had formed his circle to bait the allies into landing in the center, Montgomery and Eisenhower planned to put fake tanks in the center- to counter-bait Rommel and fool him into thinking that there is a legitimate army force located in the center. Ike and Monty (Eisenhower and Montgomery’s nicknames, Heydt, Bruce. â€Å"The General And The Field Marshal†) planned on attacking the north end of the circle after Rommel command a large number of his forces to attack the fake tan ks located in the center (Paris, Michael. El Alamein, The People's Battle†) Sure enough, the plan had worked. After several days of fighting, Rommel’s Afrika Korps were annihilated and Rommel had fled Africa, leaving his position as Field Marshall of the German Army and suddenly going on a sick leave right before the end of his campaign. (Temple, Truman †Erwin Rommel's Last Offensive In North Africa Ended With A Whimper At Medenine†). Though Eisenhower and Montgomery developed the attack plan, they greatly disliked each other.Montgomery claimed to a reporter before a battle: â€Å"I liked Eisenhower, but I could not stand him about the place for long; his high-pitched accent, and loud talking, would drive me mad. I should say he was good probably on the political line; but he obviously knows nothing whatever about fighting† (Heydt, Bruce. â€Å"The General And The Field Marshal†) He showed his disrespect throughout the war towards Eisenhower wh o also disliked him. On one event, Montgomery told an American reporter: â€Å" I’m sorry for coming late, but I really shouldn’t have come at all. Eisenhower was infuriated by his remark. Eisenhower remarked, â€Å"Montgomery is a skilled and successive general, but very conceited† (Heydt, Bruce. â€Å"The General And The Field Marshal†) Even after the battle of El Alamein, the two refused to get along, but cooperated during the war solely for the good of their own countries. The battle of El Alamein was a huge turning point in WWII. It was the first major victory claimed by the allies who had been being continuously pushed back by the Axis during the previous battles (â€Å"The Battle of El Alamein†).Rommel, the â€Å"Desert Fox† (because of his sneaky and surprising strategies that often shocked his opponents, â€Å"The Battle of El Alamein â€Å") had proved to be a worthy opponent during the war, due to his high-caliber strategies an d his intimidating, risk-taking nature. And the battle itself was consisted of major generals who could not get along but managed to pull together for the sake of the allies. El Alamein was truly a great battle, it was not simply just about which side had the greater number of arms and men, but more about matching and complying with the strategy and mentality of the opponent.

The Reality of War and Death Depicted in Owens Poem,...

If we look at the history of the world with a kaleidoscope, we can see the different aspects of war and what effect it had on the mind of different people and artists such as poets, painters and authors. Many poets romanticized war, luring it with their pen and giving it a beautiful look by glorifying death and obliging young blood to fight for their motherland. For example the poems â€Å"Peace† by Rupert Brooke and â€Å"Fall In† by Harold Begbie painted war with the highlights of glamorous and sensation. Apart from poets there are also politicians who achieved their aims with the help of war and violence while others who used the weapons of non violence to achieve their goals. The most famous example is of Adolf Hitler who took the aid of war to†¦show more content†¦The metaphor suggests that the men are so fatigued that they have lost their senses. To highlight this he says, â€Å"All went lame; all blind; /Drunk with fatigue; even to the hoots† (6- 7). This demonstrates that the men have lost their human senses and dignity. The second stanza demonstrates no sweetness is present, only suffocation: â€Å"Gas! Gas! Quick, boys! - An ecstasy of fumbling† (9). The soldiers are undergoing madness and are experiencing a gas shell attack. Owen uses a very powerful simile: â€Å"But someone still was yelling out and stumbling/ And flound’ ring like a man in fire or lime† (11-12). This is a personal experience of the speaker and the simile describes exactly what he wants to convey, (poisonous gas burns). Owen is portraying war as astoundingly disgusting, † As under a green sea, I saw him drowning† (14). He believes that no human being should endure suffering, by fighting and getting tormented is the same as dishonoring men. The words that Owen uses creates a agonizing image. The next stanza only has two lines; this is because there is a shift from reality on the battlefield to the nightmare. There is a feeling of being haunted and desperate. In all my dreams, before my helpless sight, / He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.† (15-16). There is great despair as the speaker cannot do anything to help and therefore it haunts him, it is like a stab of fear and pain. The horrors of war are further emphasized. The final stanza conveys thatShow MoreRelatedWilfred Owen Poetry Analysis744 Words   |  3 Pagessensory imagery to place the reader in a world where they can experience and understand the poet’s perspective. This is clearly depicted in Wilfred Owen’s poetry where he portrays his horrific war experiences, thus providing his poems with an unsettling tone. This idea is evident in Owen’s war poems â€Å"Dulce et Decorum est† (1920) and â€Å"Insensibility† (1918). Throughout these poems, Owen employs sensory imagery to allow the reader to envision the horrors facing the soldiers, both physically and emotionallyRead Morewar poems1348 Words   |  6 PagesWilfred Owen’s poetry is shaped by an intense focus on extraordinary human experiences. Select TWO poems set for study and explore Owen’s portrayal of suffering and pity. Prescribed text: War Poems and Others, Wilfred Owen Wilfred Owen wrote about the suffering and pity of war from his first -hand experience at the Somme. He was appalled by the overwhelming and senseless waste of life, the â€Å"human squander† and detailed its devastating effects on young men. In both ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’ andRead MoreThe Harsh Reality of War in Wilfred Owen’s Poem Dulce et Decorum Est1069 Words   |  5 PagesWilfred Owen’s poem â€Å"Dulce et Decorum Est† makes the reader acutely aware of the impact of war. The speaker’s experiences with war are vivid and terrible. Through the themes of the poem, his language choices, and contrasting the pleasant title preceding the disturbing content of the poem, he brings attention to his views on war while during the midst of one himself. Owen uses symbolism in form and language to illustrate the horrors the speaker and his comrades go through; and the way he describesRead MoreWilfred Owen Depicts The Horror And Futility Of War100 8 Words   |  5 Pageshorror and futility of war and the impact war has on individuals.† What is your view? Wilfred Owen’s porter vividly depicts the horror and futility of war and the detrimental impact of war upon the soldiers. Owen’s poem, ‘Dulce Et Decorum Est’, written in 1917 depicts the horror of war as the physical and mental damages on the solders. Most importantly, the context of the poem subverts its title. In his other poem, ‘Futility’ written in 1918, conveys war as fatal and that war is pure wastage of humanRead MoreWilfred Owen Poem Analysis Essay1526 Words   |  7 PagesWilfred Owen’s poetry is shaped by an intense focus on extraordinary human experiences. In at least 2 poems set for study, explore Owen’s portrayal of suffering and pity. One is to think of war as one of the most honorable and noble services that a man can attend to for his country, it is seen as one of the most heroic ways to die for the best cause. The idea of this is stripped down and made a complete mockery of throughout both of Wilfred Owen’s poems â€Å"Dulce Et Decorum Est† and â€Å"Anthem for DoomedRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem Dulce Et Decorum Est 1246 Words   |  5 Pagessound to create a sense of war. In â€Å"Dulce et Decorum Est† this is achieved through the use of nasals, fricatives and plosives. The fricatives, â€Å"Gas! Gas! Quick, boys!† create a very rough sound. This could show the rough conditions of war, especially for tenderfoots. The fricatives are dominantly used throughout to create a sense of hardship and danger. The use of plosives such as â€Å"guttering, choking, drowning† creates a sense of how harsh the living conditions at war were. The words â€Å"guttering,Read More Comparing The Charge of the Light Brigade and Dulce ET Decorum EST1201 Words   |  5 Pagesand Dulce ET Decorum EST  Ã‚  Ã‚   The poems â€Å"The Charge of the Light Brigade† and â€Å"Dulce ET Decorum EST† are war poems. They reflect on two different but equally harrowing events, however the poets portray these events using their own style and the and result is two entirely different views of war. Alfred Tennyson wrote the â€Å"Charge of the Light Brigade† in 1854 and it is about the battle of Balaclava in the Crimean war. Although this battle had no real influence on the outcome of the war itRead MoreWilfred Life Of Wilfred Owen914 Words   |  4 Pagesrenowned compositions were distinguished in their delivery of a tenacious condemnation of the First World War. Born, 18 March 1893 in Oswestry, Shropshire, Owen commenced his poetic endeavours through his adolescence, and after having completed his schooling, soon became a teaching assistant and aspired for vocational pursuits. However, these were soon disparaged with the eminence of the Fist World War, and in 1915, he eventually returned to England, where he enlisted in the Artists Rifles Officers Read MoreOwens Dulce Et Decorum Est : Portrayal Of War Analysis967 Words   |  4 PagesOwen’s â€Å"Dulce et Decorum Est†: Portrayal of War General William Tecumseh Sherman stated that, â€Å"War is cruelty† (Sherman). Yet past and present media propaganda use recruitment advertisements to portray military service as a noble and glorious profession. A majority of military propaganda that I have seen, heard, or read, is depicted in a positive manner. War propaganda focuses on the concrete aspects of benefits, skill development, and travel. Pictures of soldiers smiling and appearing contentRead MoreDulce Et Decorum Est And The Horrors Of War Poem Analysis1425 Words   |  6 Pagescan actually be taken seriously in light of war poetry. Although the soldiers in World War I did not literally fight with swords, their experiences in combat were beyond appalling, and some might say, beyond describable by words. Poetry, however, is a very powerful form of expression, and when written by someone who has experienced the horrors of war, it can deeply convey the grim reality of war. Utilising personal experiences and pre-w ar ideology, World War I poets Wilfred Owens and Rupert Brookes’