Canadian Medicine: Past, Present and Future

This select historical overview of Canadian medicine - the doctors, the discoveries, and the nature of health care delivery - presents only a few of the important contributions men and women have made to medicine, science, and technology in Canada. There remain many unsung heroes of medicine and a number of past medical practices yet to be studied, such as the history of aboriginal health, rural medicine, alternative therapies, and medical specialization. There are increasing challenges in Canadian medicine today, such as the rising cost of health care, continued medical specialization, the changing doctor-patient relationship, the role of medical technology in the prolongation of life, quality of life issues, euthanasia, and more. Nevertheless, Canadian medical men and women, whether in university laboratories or in urban or rural practices, will certainly continue to contribute to greater medical understanding and health care improvements for all Canadians.