Haber C
Z Gerontol. 1984 Jan-Feb;17(1):26-31.
This paper explores the historical reasons why geriatrics has failed to become a popular specialty in America. Focusing upon the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, it examines the medical theories and ideas that led to the creation of a specialty in the diseases of old age. According to Haber, these beliefs caused many would-be geriatricians to be extremely reluctant to devote themselves to the new field. While such physicians were often convinced that a separate practice for the old was both theoretically valid and necessary, they were far less sure of the ultimate usefulness of their work. The prevailing model of senescence portrayed old age as a progressive, incurable disease, and the elderly as the most difficult and trying of patients. Medically, as well as economically, geriatrics seemed to have little appeal. The author concludes that these beliefs still influence many physicians' conception of geriatrics; it remains a specialty in search of specialists.
本文探讨了老年医学在美国未能成为热门专科的历史原因。聚焦于19世纪和20世纪初，它审视了那些促使老年疾病专科得以创立的医学理论和观念。根据哈伯的观点，这些观念致使许多未来的老年病医生极不情愿投身于这一全新领域。尽管这类医生常常坚信为老年人设立独立的医疗业务在理论上既合理又必要，但他们对自身工作的最终效用却远没有那么确定。当时盛行的衰老模式将老年描绘成一种渐进性的、无法治愈的疾病，而老年人则是最难应对、最棘手的患者。从医学角度以及经济角度来看，老年医学似乎都没什么吸引力。作者得出结论，这些观念依然影响着许多医生对老年医学的认知；它仍然是一个寻觅专科医生的专科领域。
