From a facial transplant to an artificial voice, advances in academic medicine are transforming patients’ lives. But the term medical breakthrough is often thrown around too loosely in the media, and it’s important for health writers to understand how to distinguish between advancements and hyped-up research findings. By understanding the distinction, you can select news that has real relevance to patient care and help your health writing stay accurate, focused and credible.
X-rays
William Conrad Roentgen’s discovery of X-rays in 1896 was the first major advance in medical imaging. It enabled doctors to see internal structures and organs without damaging them. This revolutionised diagnostic procedures and led to a wide range of life-saving interventions, including surgery, chemotherapy, and organ transplantation.
Insulin
In 1928, Alexander Fleming discovered that a strain of mold growing in his Petri dish had the ability to limit the growth of bacteria. His breakthrough, insulin, has helped prevent and cure diabetes, extending patients’ lifespans and saving healthcare systems billions.
Regenerative medicine
Regenerative medicine is a new area of research that seeks to replace or regenerate damaged tissues and organs. This could help address some of the biggest health challenges facing the world, from chronic diseases like diabetes to organ shortages. It’s a field that includes everything from stimulating the body’s own repair mechanisms to growing tissues and organs in laboratories.