1970s
The 70s was a very controversial decade of medical decisions and as well as women's rights. A very wide know court case during that period was Roe v. Wade. It all started with Jane Roe who wanted an abortion. Like all other cases there were supporters and critics. The supporters argued it was part of a women's right to do what she wanted with her body. On the other hand, the critics disagreed and said it cheapened human life. This case would make it seem like any women could receive and abortion if the pregnancy seemed "inconvenient". On January 22, 1973, it was ruled that any women had the right to get an abortion under the 14th amendment. The rules were it had to happen before the end of the first trimester and the decision had to be left between her and her physician. Aside from this case, there were also other astounding medical advancements made during this decade.
In 1972 David Janosky and his coworkers proposed that bipolar disorder is caused by two chemical neurotransmitters in the brain. Then in the late 1970s the arthoscope was introduced. It gave surgeons a view into the joints and other sites. It was constructed of a small lens and light system with a video camera. This allowed for the incision site to be smaller in size. By the end of the 70s in 1979, cases were recognized as the disease known as AIDS. The first case most likely occurred in 1969 but was not widely noticed until the 1980s.
In 1972 David Janosky and his coworkers proposed that bipolar disorder is caused by two chemical neurotransmitters in the brain. Then in the late 1970s the arthoscope was introduced. It gave surgeons a view into the joints and other sites. It was constructed of a small lens and light system with a video camera. This allowed for the incision site to be smaller in size. By the end of the 70s in 1979, cases were recognized as the disease known as AIDS. The first case most likely occurred in 1969 but was not widely noticed until the 1980s.
Narrative
Medical advancements during the 70s connected to the civil rights era. Rights for women, Hispanics, and African Americans were the main focus of the 1960s and 1970s. The "Great Society" was a part of that. Many people were pushing society to the limits and trying to get equal rights. Protests, marches, boycotts and so many more things took place. There has not been another decade that has seen such dramatic changes as this. The changes were put into place in the 1960s and in the 1970s the changes were noticeable. Most other decades just make the advancements and there is no society involved but the 1970s is an exception.
1980s
AIDS was the most recognized and frantic virus of the 1980s. People did not know anything about it and they were worried that everyone was going to be infected. It was thought that just the breath of a person with HIV could infect the people around them. It was found out later that it can only be transmitted through bodily fluids such as blood. The hepatitis-B vaccine was produced in 1980 and also insulin started being produced. In 1986, American geneticist Louis Kunkel found a gene for duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Narrative
Because of the AIDS virus becoming so popular in the 1980s, that was what most research went towards during that decade. It was such a new virus to the United States that no one really knew its causes and effects. Millions of dollars went into experiments and drug testing. Today pills are used to help slow HIV and AIDS down and some help strengthen the immune system back up. Many other countries depend on America for this kind of research and expect them to come up with a treatment. When things like these happen people want to create awareness. Mary Fisher was a receiver of this virus and took it upon herself to educate and inform. This led her to deliver a speech in 1992 at the Republican National Convention. This speech went down as one of the most remembered in history. Without this epidemic in the 80s, amazing speeches would not have been made and many more precious lives could have been lost.
Finding the gene for muscular dystrophy was also a big deal. This allowed research to move forward and it helped lead doctors in the right direction for a cure.
Finding the gene for muscular dystrophy was also a big deal. This allowed research to move forward and it helped lead doctors in the right direction for a cure.