Advancements of the 21st century and Their Implications on Medical Research and Diagnosis

Throughout the 20th century, new research and new demands have led to an increased amount of technology used in medicine. These methods have led to early detection, better context of conditions, increased efficiency, and brighter prospects for the future of medical diagnosis. However, the increasing use of AI and genetics in medicine has called for checks and further clinical trials to determine how ethical these practices might be. The debate surrounding the integration of Artificial Intelligence has created further controversy—that is, what technologies should be used and what technologies should not be used. To determine a solution, certain factors should be considered including the comfort of patients during treatments including advanced technology, the risk factor of integrating AI into procedures, and the efficiency of technology compared to traditional medical practices. For example, imaging technologies such as X-ray and sonography are found to be more comfortable for patients due to their long-standing familiarity, yet their precision and accuracy fall short in comparison to advanced Imaging technologies such as CT, MRI, and PET scans. There has also been discussion of the use of genetic testing such as chromosomal microarrays. Advances in genetic testing have led to the ability to detect conditions in embryos which can be beneficial, but the manipulation of the embryos could raise ethical concerns. Past ethical grey areas, there have been amazing prospects for the future of medicine and these innovations, such as the use of non-invasive testing which is an emerging alternative to traditional surgical methods. Through extensive literary research, this paper considers the multiple aspects that should contribute to deciding to implement technological advancements brought in the 21st Century. By investigating previous integrations of innovations within medicine, this research could envision a risk-free and more ethical approach to advancing medicine with technology.