What do you think that the next great medical advance will be?

[Firethorn]

I was reading through some of the neat medical stuff, and there are some exciting things down the pipe.

Anyways, I've thought of two contenders that will revolutionalize medicine/medical treatment as we know it:

1.  My old favorite:  Fueled by the decoding of the human genome, enabled by small one time diagnostic chips that can test for hundreds of conditions with a single drop of blood(or other fluid), targeted medicine.  Rather than playing 'hit or miss', a chemical cocktail is developed specifically for you, to treat your conditions.  For something like cancer, a cocktail of drugs are designed to maximize effectiveness against the tumor while minimizing effects on you.

2.  My new favorite:  Cloning!  Already in labs they've manage to clone skin, heart tissue, and I think liver.  They're working on getting them to grow on a substrate to grow a whole new organ.  In the future, immune suppression drugs are almost a thing of the past as when it's determined that you need a new organ, they simply clone one.

So what do you think?

[Werewolf]

Anti-geriatrics...

Unfortunately no government in its right mind would ever allow such a thing to be released to the proles - too many people on the planet already.

Of course that won't keep our masters from getting the stuff and living 2 or 3 hundred years.

[lee n. field]

The Ferris Persuader.
 

[lupinus]

Nano tech

Tumor?  Virus?  Program the bugs into little tumor eatin pit bulls.

Clots? Arterial plaque? Program a nano clean up crew.

It would likely start off very simply but as time goes on the possibilities are virtually endless.

New prosthetic limbs are also very cool.

[zahc]

advanced Cyborgification from the chicken black market from beyond the moon.

Read the latest Discover. Pretty impressive.

[Dntsycnt]

Nanotechnology for the win!

And I don't think any nation would sit idly by as the elites live forever.  When it comes to immortality, the people will get up from the recliners.

In fact, Werewolf, let's place a wager.  I bet you five thousand dollars that within 50 years such life extension treatments will be readily available for the general public (at least in America).  Of course, by then it'll only buy you a pack of gum, and depending on how old you are you might not be around that long. 

Do you accept!?

[eflatminor]

I hope the next great medical advancement will be not a drug, a surgical procedure, or any other medical treatment.  I hope it will be the realization that in the vast majority of cases, we decide, with our own actions, if we're to be sick or well.  The next big advancement?  Fruits and vegetables, lots of filtered water, a bit of exersize and to the greatest extent possible, the prevention of chemicals and other processed substances from getting into our bodies.  Genetics can tell you what you what sicknessess you might be prone to, but you need not take drugs because of that.  There are ALWAYS natural cures that doctors will not prescribe.  You can be healthy or sick, it's your choice. 

[Dntsycnt]

I hope the next great medical advancement will be not a drug, a surgical procedure, or any other medical treatment.  I hope it will be the realization that in the vast majority of cases, we decide, with our own actions, if we're to be sick or well.  The next big advancement?  Fruits and vegetables, lots of filtered water, a bit of exersize and to the greatest extent possible, the prevention of chemicals and other processed substances from getting into our bodies.  Genetics can tell you what you what sicknessess you might be prone to, but you need not take drugs because of that.  There are ALWAYS natural cures that doctors will not prescribe.  You can be healthy or sick, it's your choice. 

Are you a scientologist?

[Stand_watie]

I hope the next great medical advancement will be not a drug, a surgical procedure, or any other medical treatment.  I hope it will be the realization that in the vast majority of cases, we decide, with our own actions, if we're to be sick or well.  The next big advancement?  Fruits and vegetables, lots of filtered water, a bit of exersize and to the greatest extent possible, the prevention of chemicals and other processed substances from getting into our bodies.  Genetics can tell you what you what sicknessess you might be prone to, but you need not take drugs because of that.  There are ALWAYS natural cures that doctors will not prescribe.  You can be healthy or sick, it's your choice. 

     Adam will "Uneat" the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

[Grandpa Shooter]

I keep hoping they will invent a way to quietly sterilize welfare recipients as they sit applying for yet another hand out.  Have a ray of some low intrusion zap the ovaries and testes of those filling out the paperwork and before you know it, the worker bees will outnumber the parasites.

[Devonai]

I'd say cyberbrains, but then there's always the inevitable cyberbrain sclerosis that will effect a portion of the population.

[De Selby]

I keep hoping they will invent a way to quietly sterilize welfare recipients as they sit applying for yet another hand out.  Have a ray of some low intrusion zap the ovaries and testes of those filling out the paperwork and before you know it, the worker bees will outnumber the parasites.

That used to be the law-crooks, vagrants, and assorted poor people were forcibly sterilized for much of the 20th century in many states.

The US sterilization program served as a model for a certain European nation's "genetic purity" laws, even, so you weren't the only one to have this idea.

[roo_ster]

I keep hoping they will invent a way to quietly sterilize welfare recipients as they sit applying for yet another hand out.  Have a ray of some low intrusion zap the ovaries and testes of those filling out the paperwork and before you know it, the worker bees will outnumber the parasites.

That used to be the law-crooks, vagrants, and assorted poor people were forcibly sterilized for much of the 20th century in many states.

The US sterilization program served as a model for a certain European nation's "genetic purity" laws, even, so you weren't the only one to have this idea.

SS brings up the ugly side of the Progressive movement, eugenics being only a small part. 

Whenever I see some tool on TV claiming to be a Progressive, I always wonder if he has ever cracked a book on the history of early 20th Century America.  You wanna own THAT, bucko?

[De Selby]

I keep hoping they will invent a way to quietly sterilize welfare recipients as they sit applying for yet another hand out.  Have a ray of some low intrusion zap the ovaries and testes of those filling out the paperwork and before you know it, the worker bees will outnumber the parasites.

That used to be the law-crooks, vagrants, and assorted poor people were forcibly sterilized for much of the 20th century in many states.

The US sterilization program served as a model for a certain European nation's "genetic purity" laws, even, so you weren't the only one to have this idea.

SS brings up the ugly side of the Progressive movement, eugenics being only a small part. 

Whenever I see some tool on TV claiming to be a Progressive, I always wonder if he has ever cracked a book on the history of early 20th Century America.  You wanna own THAT, bucko?

Yep-"science marches on! We don't need no stinking ancient values...."

[sumpnz]

Y'all got it wrong.  The next big advancement will be SOCIALIZED MEDICINE.  Uncle Obama told me so. 

[Antibubba]

Actually, I'd like to see a safe male contraceptive.  I don't have any qualms about the permanence of a vasectomy, just the thought of sharp things near my peepee.

[Jamisjockey]

Female viagra.  After seeing Viagra, Cialis, and what a big deal they are....its obvious that people could care less about curing cancer, etc.  They want to get laid!

[HankB]

1. Drano for the arteries. There's already some advertising of chelation therapy, but it's most definitely out of the mainstream today. I think someone , before TOO many more decades go by, will come up with something that actually does dissolve atherosclerotic plaque, without any harmful side effects. Say goodbye to most heart attacks and strokes.

2. A new wave of antibiotics, effective against the current strains of resistant bugs.

3. The easiest way to implement Grandpa Shooter's idea is to stop giving welfare recipients money, but give them food instead - laced with contraceptives. Once they get off welfare and start buying their own food with their own (rather than taxpayer) money, they can start having kids again.

[mfree]

True nerve repair.

[LadySmith]

Female viagra.  After seeing Viagra, Cialis, and what a big deal they are....its obvious that people could care less about curing cancer, etc.  They want to get laid!

And along those lines, my bet would be on something that provides the same effect as Viagra while also increasing...um...male sizes.

How well do you think that would sell?

[Firethorn]

Nano tech

Part of the idea for #1 is that you perform a test that reports back in under an hour, then for your case of strep throat, rather than dosing you with antibiotics that the bacteria become immune to, they instead dose you with a species of macrophage that targets that particular batch of bacteria.  Give the bacteria infecting you an infection, essentially.

That's certainly a form of nanotech, but I think the programmable robots you're thinking of are a long ways off.

The US sterilization program served as a model for a certain European nation's "genetic purity" laws, even, so you weren't the only one to have this idea.

Oh my, that's pretty...  progressive.  The incidents I heard about in class for the eugenics programs was that they would sterilize the retarded/mentally ill.  I'm pretty mixed about some of that stuff - On the one hand, you could say 'what a horrible thing, they can't consent, they don't know what you're doing'.  On the other hand - these are essentially kids in adult bodies.  Incidents happen, and due to health and mental reasons a pregnancy isn't a good thing for them.  You can preempt some issues with a tubal litigation.

eflatminor - I have to disagree with you.  Filtered water?  Not going to do much.  Our bodies are naturally designed to handle all sorts of stuff in the water.  Fruits&vegies, yes, quite a few people could do with more of them.  As for 'chemicals' - even purely organic food contain chemicals.  Vitamins are chemicals.  Water is a chemical.  On the genetic angle, being born with Type 1 diabetes is genetic.  You WILL NOT SURVIVE if you don't take drugs to treat that.  No, there are NOT ALWAYS natural cures.  Yes, we do need to look at bit more at them, but I'll point out that the first 100 years or so of medicine involved seeking out the active portion of various natural treatments to refine and increase the effectiveness.  Willow bark tea led to aspirin.  Cowpox lead to the smallpox vaccine.  A mold lead to penicillin.

As for the male contraceptive/female viagra, would that really revolutionalize medical treatment?

HankB - Good response.
1.  Interesting, would this be part of standard preventative care?  Go in and get cleaned out every couple of decades starting at 40?  A daily pill?
2.  Personally, I think that macrophages are the way to go.  A virus targeting the bacteria that's infecting you.  Drip it in, the bacteria colony gets 'sick', and is unable to resist the mounting defenses of the body.
3.  I've also advocated the 'once a month' shot whenever they come in for their check.

[Jamisjockey]

Female viagra.  After seeing Viagra, Cialis, and what a big deal they are....its obvious that people could care less about curing cancer, etc.  They want to get laid!

And along those lines, my bet would be on something that provides the same effect as Viagra while also increasing...um...male sizes.

How well do you think that would sell?

Sadly, well.

[Werewolf]

Nanotechnology for the win!

And I don't think any nation would sit idly by as the elites live forever.  When it comes to immortality, the people will get up from the recliners.

In fact, Werewolf, let's place a wager.  I bet you five thousand dollars that within 50 years such life extension treatments will be readily available for the general public (at least in America).  Of course, by then it'll only buy you a pack of gum, and depending on how old you are you might not be around that long. 

Do you accept!?

Well I would except in 50 years I'd be 106. Genetics will get me to my mid 90's - probably - but even if I didn make it who'd want to go on for another 100 years with a biological age of 100+. Unless they could regress ya.

On 2nd thought if I make it and yur still around - yeah - I'd gladly lose that bet.

[Werewolf]

I keep hoping they will invent a way to quietly sterilize welfare recipients as they sit applying for yet another hand out.  Have a ray of some low intrusion zap the ovaries and testes of those filling out the paperwork and before you know it, the worker bees will outnumber the parasites.

Didn't the US goobermint try something like that in the 1920's/30's? Didn't go over well then. Probably wouldn't now.

Still - a damned good idea.

[eflatminor]

Not a Scientologist, just a guy that has learned from experience that you create your own reality.  If you're fat and miserable, then it's because you've done exactly what is necessary to be fat and miserable through the choices you've made.  I decided to get healthy nearly ten years ago and haven't had so much as the sniffles since.  I still visit a western doctor occasionally for a check up, though I know it's not necessary.  Last time, she told me "You're the healthiest person in the building, that's for sure", to which I replied "You won't make money selling drugs to me!"