Consequences of the report Flexner Report

1 consequences of report

1.1 medical school closings
1.2 impact on african-american doctors , patients
1.3 impact on alternative medicine
1.4 impact on osteopathic medicine

consequences of report

to remarkable extent, following present-day aspects of medical profession in north america consequences of flexner report:

a physician receives @ least six, , preferably eight, years of post-secondary formal instruction, in university setting;
medical training adheres closely scientific method , thoroughly grounded in human physiology , biochemistry. medical research adheres protocols of scientific research;
average physician quality has increased significantly;
no medical school can created without permission of state government. likewise, size of existing medical schools subject state regulation;
each state branch of american medical association has oversight on conventional medical schools located within state;
medicine in , canada has become highly paid , well-respected profession.

the report remembered because succeeded in creating single model of medical education, characterized philosophy has largely survived present day. education in medicine, wrote flexner, involves both learning , learning how; student cannot know, unless knows how. although report on 100 years old, many of recommendations still relevant—particularly concerning physician social instrument... function fast becoming social , preventive, rather individual , curative.

medical school closings

flexner sought reduce number of medical schools in u.s. 31, , cut annual number of medical graduates 4,400 2,000. majority of american institutions granting md or degrees of date of report (1910) closed within 2 3 decades. (in canada, medical school @ western university deemed inadequate, none closed or merged subsequent report.) in 1904, there 160 m.d. granting institutions more 28,000 students. 1920, there 85 m.d. granting institutions, educating 13,800 students. 1935, there 66 medical schools operating in usa.

between 1910 , 1935, more half of american medical schools merged or closed. dramatic decline in part due implementation of report s recommendation proprietary schools closed, , medical schools should henceforth connected universities. of 66 surviving md-granting institutions in 1935, 57 part of university. important factor driving mergers , closures of medical schools state medical boards gradually adopted , enforced report s recommendations. in response report, schools fired senior faculty members part of process of reform , renewal.

impact on african-american doctors , patients

flexner viewed blacks inferior , advocated closing 2 of historically black medical schools. opinions followed , howard , meharry left open, while 5 other schools closed. perspective black doctors should treat black patients , should serve roles subservient white physicians. closure of these schools , fact black students not admitted many medical schools in usa 50 years after flexner has contributed low numbers of american born physicians of color , ramifications still felt more 100 years later.

furthermore, given adherence germ theory, argued that, if not trained , treated, african-americans posed health threat middle/upper class whites.

practice of negro doctor limited own race, in turn cared better negro physicians poor white ones. physical well-being of negro not of moment negro himself. ten million of them live in close contact sixty million whites. not negro himself suffer hookworm , tuberculosis; communicates them white neighbors, precisely ignorant , unfortunate white contaminates him. self-protection not less humanity offers weighty counsel in matter; self- interest seconds philanthropy. negro must educated not sake, ours. is, far human eye can see, permanent factor in nation.

impact on alternative medicine

when flexner researched report, modern medicine faced vigorous competition several quarters, including osteopathic medicine, chiropractic medicine, electrotherapy, eclectic medicine, naturopathy , homeopathy. flexner doubted scientific validity of forms of medicine other based on scientific research, deeming approach medicine did not advocate use of treatments such vaccines prevent , cure illness tantamount quackery , charlatanism. medical schools offered training in various disciplines including electromagnetic field therapy, phototherapy, eclectic medicine, physiomedicalism, naturopathy, , homeopathy, told either drop these courses curriculum or lose accreditation , underwriting support. few schools resisted time, either complied report or shut doors.

impact on osteopathic medicine

although alternative medical schools listed in flexner s report closed, american osteopathic association (aoa) able bring number of osteopathic medical schools compliance flexner s recommendations , produce evidence-based practice. curricula of , md awarding medical schools identical, chief difference being additional instruction in osteopathic schools of osteopathic manipulative medicine.