Noble Noble Laureates

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The Nobel Prize is known as the highest distinction for a person's achievement. Received by many famous historical figures, the Nobel Prize is given to people who truly make an impact on the world. The Nobel Prize in Medicine is given to those who make an impact on the world with a breakthrough in some kind of medical field. This year, the Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded to three people for their advancements in making anti-parasite drugs. One of the three people awarded with this honor is Youyou Tu. She was given this award for her advancement in the treatment of Malaria. She did this in a way that is not usually seen in common medicine. In the article Anti-Parasite Drugs Sweep Nobel Prize in Medicine 2015 it goes over how Dr. Tu made such a revolutionary discovery regarding parasite medicine.


Many people are familiar with traditional medicine. The idea that remedies such as rhino horns or herbs can cure disease. Many people write off these medicines as bogus but Dr. Tu proved this to be wrong. In earlier days, treatment for malaria were showing to be even more inefficient. Dr. Tu went back to her roots, literally, and researched over 2,000 Chinese herbal remedies to find a treatment for malaria. One of the herbal remedies for this was an extract from wormwood. This extract was found extremely effective in treating malaria.Tu, who made this groundbreaking discovery, has herself been surrounded by some controversy as this is the first reward she has been given in China and she has not been elected to any major academic board. But her colleagues all agree that she truly deserves this award. She has dedicated years of her life to this research and it's really starting to pay off. While she is getting critical acclaim around the world, she's being critically accused within China. But, despite that, the research she's doing in proving to do some good. The drug she derived from the wormwood tree is being distributed helping those who truly need treatment for malaria.


So, the discovery made by Dr. Tu is doing a serious amount of good. The drug itself is being distributed around the world to people who are being seriously harmed by malaria. While one might think that this drug might not be able to reach those who really need it (those in Africa and other impoverished nations) but the contrary proves possible. The drug, made possible by Tu, is being distributed around the world by organizations like Doctor's Without Borders and UNICEF. In the end, the discoveries made by Dr. Tu will help many people who need it.

The Future is Nigh and that's not Good

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If you really think about it we are in the future. We have new and amazing technology that would amaze and astound people from even 20 years ago. And in this new and amazing age of technology, we have a lot of new medical advancements. Some of these advancements may even feel futuristic to us. A few of the many new and seemingly futuristic medical breakthroughs are outlined in the article "10 Medical Breakthroughs that Sound like Science Fiction," from Men's Health, a well respected magazine, a few of the many new scientific breakthroughs are outlined. After reading this article I would argue that these new and advanced methods are extremely beneficial for the patient, but also causing an extreme hike in cost for insurance and the patient him/herself.
In the article it outlined many medical advances that may seem far fetched to us, but are actually real and viable methods of treatment for patients. One of the examples was a robotic eye that allows blind people to regain basic functions such as being able to see where they're going while walking, reading large letters, or distinguishing colors. This breakthrough is extremely beneficial and will help more than one and a half million people. Another new advance is in the field of neuroscience. A device implanted in the brain can actually prevent seizures. It detects the brain activity that would lead to a seizure, and sends counteractive signals that counteract the seizure.
Now, these advances in the medical field are a great thing. It shows that science is truly advancing at an astounding rate and that's a great thing. But it is not all good. The fact of the matter is this treatment won't help the people it really needs to help. These treatments help those who are affluent and fortunate enough to be able to afford such advanced treatment. But many people who suffer from seizures, blindness and other serious ailments are already in debt trying to afford their current treatment. These new and not to mention expensive ways of helping patients will furthers these people's debt if they choose to get these treatments. In my personal opinion it is a way for the medical community to exploit patients who are already in an extremely vulnerable position as it is. This can be rectified if this new technology is made affordable. These treatments are a good thing, such a great advance in the fields of science should be celebrated. But what is the point of celebrating an advancement that no one can afford?

Behind the Treatment

• Briefly explain why you are interested in studying your topic:  

In college I plan on entering the field of medicine for that reason I want to be able to look at the many different aspects that are involved in the healthcare process and get a general idea and concept of what goes into treating a patient for a specific ailment. Looking into this topic also allows me to see what new innovations are occurring in the field of medicine.

• 

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  The overall question I plan on answering by the end of the project:

How do innovations in healthcare affect overall spending and care of patients?

• Sub questions I will need to answer in order to answer the overall question:

I will look at what new technology has come out and see how that affects the treatment of patients. What new up and coming diseases are making patient care more difficult. How these new treatments are affecting cost overall, and in general how these new treatments work. I also want to look into the general field of medicine, and health sciences.

• My plan of research (what specific Library Databases, specific websites, names of authors, people, etc. will I pursue to find the answers to the questions above):

There is a wide variety of databases and resources I can use to study this topic. A numerous amount of encyclopedias covering this exact kind of research as well as articles scattered across the web makes finding the information simple to find. I also come from a family of medical professions so I own a wide array of medical textbooks, articles, and studies inside my own home. Both of my parents have an insight into the modern medical world as well as its advances. They also possess a seemingly endless knowledge about health care.  

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