The Flexner Report
The Flexner Report had a series of profound effects on education in non-orthodox areas of medicine such as homeopathy, nutrition, natural therapies and chiropractic. What were those effects and how have they influenced the legitimacy and professional development of natural medicine.
Initially, this report, published in 1910 was labelled ‘Medical Education in the United States and Canada’. Created by Abraham Flexner (1866 - 1959) whom visited and graded hundreds of medical schools across America on the model of biomedical science and hands-on training. Those who did not make the grade eventually closed due to a lack of funding. It was the first step towards modern medical education (MedicineNet, 2002). This report was to be the demise of many …show more content…
This one act changed the course of Medical history. The controversy of this one event in the early 20th Century is paramount to how the alternative field of medicine can still be portrayed in our modern times. Quackery is a term that is often linked to many of the natural modalities and is still often used by many Medical Doctors who are closed minded to anything that is not pharmaceutical based. The amounts of money offered to these allowed Medical schools at the turn of the century in monetary comparison today is unimaginable. How could any of the smaller complimentary schools compete? What a different world it would be today if the same amount of money was offered to research and scientifically dissect ‘folk medicine’. Humanity sadly lost a great opportunity and many people died in the face of modern medical research. A great injustice has befallen all of us due to these historic events and in the last 100 years, we have become a nation sicker than ever before. We must, therefore, give thanks to the minority who continued their research and teachings in the complementary medicine fields for doing so many would have faced extraordinary barriers and judgements. Their dedication to the ‘healing power of nature’ has progressively allowed the patient to have more freedom of choice when choosing their paths to wellness in the 21st
Initially, this report, published in 1910 was labelled ‘Medical Education in the United States and Canada’. Created by Abraham Flexner (1866 - 1959) whom visited and graded hundreds of medical schools across America on the model of biomedical science and hands-on training. Those who did not make the grade eventually closed due to a lack of funding. It was the first step towards modern medical education (MedicineNet, 2002). This report was to be the demise of many …show more content…
This one act changed the course of Medical history. The controversy of this one event in the early 20th Century is paramount to how the alternative field of medicine can still be portrayed in our modern times. Quackery is a term that is often linked to many of the natural modalities and is still often used by many Medical Doctors who are closed minded to anything that is not pharmaceutical based. The amounts of money offered to these allowed Medical schools at the turn of the century in monetary comparison today is unimaginable. How could any of the smaller complimentary schools compete? What a different world it would be today if the same amount of money was offered to research and scientifically dissect ‘folk medicine’. Humanity sadly lost a great opportunity and many people died in the face of modern medical research. A great injustice has befallen all of us due to these historic events and in the last 100 years, we have become a nation sicker than ever before. We must, therefore, give thanks to the minority who continued their research and teachings in the complementary medicine fields for doing so many would have faced extraordinary barriers and judgements. Their dedication to the ‘healing power of nature’ has progressively allowed the patient to have more freedom of choice when choosing their paths to wellness in the 21st