Balancing the paradox of medical-surgical advances: a historical perspective on the current situation in thoracic surgery

Technical innovations and medical progress derived from this technology has produced enormous health and societal benefits. Millions of people today, including some readers of this article, are alive owing to these developments. The vast majority of people currently living owe their health to technology; whether from the ability to diagnose illness through radiographs and the work of Madame Curie, cure infection via antibiotics, treat injury and disease using surgery, medications and chemotherapy or the ability to avoid illness altogether, through the development of vaccines.