Living and Working with the New Medical Technologies: Intersections of Inquiry (Cambridge Studies in Medical Anthropology, Series Number 8)

This stimulating collection of essays is the product of face-to-face dialogues among anthropologists, sociologists, and philosopher-historians, all of whom focus their attention on the newly created biomedical technologies and their application in practice. Drawing on ethnographic and historical case studies, the authors show how biomedical technologies are produced through the agencies of tools and techniques, scientists and doctors, funding bodies, patients, clients, and the public. Despite shared concerns, these essays reveal that the authors have achieved no consensus about the objectives of their research, and the deep epistemological divides clearly remain - making for provocative reading. This Collection Of Essays Is The Product Of Face-to-face Dialogues Among Anthropologists, Sociologists, And Philosopher Historians, All Of Whom Focus Their Attention On Newly Created Biomedical Technologies And Their Application In Practice. Drawing On Ethnographic And Historical Case Studies, The Authors Show How Biomedical Technologies Are Produced Through The Agencies Of Tools And Techniques, Scientists And Doctors, Funding Bodies, Patients, Clients, And The Public. Despite Shared Concerns, These Essays Reveal That The Authors Have Achieved No Consensus About The Objectives Of Their Research And Deep Epistemological Divides Remain.--jacket. Beyond Nature And Culture : Modes Of Reasoning In The Age Of Molecular Biology And Medicine / Hans-jörg Rheinberger -- Epochs, Presents, Events / Paul Rabinow -- Trustworthy Knowledge And Desperate Patients : Clinical Tests For New Drugs From Cancer To Aids / Ilana Löwy -- Pathology And The Clinic : An Ethnographic Presentation Of Two Atheroscleroses / Annemarie Mol -- Real Compared To What? : Diagnosing Leukemias And Lymphomas / Peter Keating And Alberto Cambrosio -- History, Hystery And Psychiatric Styles Of Reasoning / Allan Young -- Screening The Body : The Pap Smear And The Mammogram / Patricia A. Kaufert -- Extra Chromosomes And Blue Tulips : Medico-familial Interpretations / Rayna Rapp -- When Explanations Rest : Good Enough Brain Science And The New Socio-medical Disorders / Joseph Dumit -- On Dying Twice : Culture, Technology And The Determination Of Death / Margaret Lock -- The Practice Of Organ Transplants : Networks, Documents, Translations / Veena Das. Edited By Margaret Lock, Allan Young, Alberto Cambrosio. This Book Grew Out Of A Conference Held In July 1996 At Cambridge University, England. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This stimulating collection of essays, a product of a dialogue among anthropologists, sociologists, and philosopher-historians, focuses on the newly created biomedical technologies and their practical applications. Drawing on ethnographic and historical case studies, the authors show how biomedical technologies are produced through the agencies of tools and techniques, scientists and doctors, funding bodies, patients, and the public. Despite shared concerns, the authors achieve no consensus about their research objectives, and deep epistemological divides clearly remain, making for provocative reading. In this short chapter, I examine what I perceive as the historical relation between molecular biology, gene technology and medicine, and I touch on some aspects of its consequences in the context of the human genome project. Interdisciplinary Collection Of Essays On The Influence And Development Of New Medical Technologies.