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  • Category: Miscellaneous
    Points:5

    What he did was unethical, but he gave new life to thousands of newborns

    Dr. Martin A. Couney was known as the 'Incubator Doctor'. During his lifetime, he saved more than seven thousand prematurely born babies.

    In the early 1900s, many physicians felt that premature babies were fated to die and not worth the effort to save their lives.

    But, Dr. Martin A. Couney countered this notion. Inspired by the use of chicken incubators as 'child hatcheries' at the Chicago World Fair, he understood the potential of incubators to bring premature newborns back from death's doorstep, and was keen to make an effort in this direction.

    He was successful in his effort. But, he started showcasing these infants in incubators at his Coney Island exhibition, charging visitors 25 cents to observe the babies in their incubators. This was an outrightly unethical act. Not only that, there was an incident of fire in the exhibition, although all the newborns were rescued.

    The Coney Island exhibition was closed in 1943. But, by that time, almost all hospitals in the USA had incorporated the use of lifesaving incubators to save premature babies.

    Even now, the unethical physician is remembered for his pioneering work to save newborn babies.
  • #780036

    Points:5
    These days there are many children's hospitals where prematurely born babies are taken care of and sent to their houses safely. My sister's grandson is a premature baby. His mother delivered him in the 7th month. Immediately he was admitted to a hospital where premature babies are treated. He was immediately incubated and kept in the hospital for about 45 days and treated very well. His mother also stayed in the hospital with him. Now he is in his 9th class and studying in Chennai. The doctor who treated him still remembers him and talks to him now and then.
    Dr. Martin A. Couney did a good job by allowing many people to see and observe the incubated babies. The money he charges is not very high I feel. But the concept got wide publicity and many might have come to him. Some doctors might have also observed the babies and understood the methodology. His pioneering work in that field has become very popular and many children across the world are getting saved through the method he derived. But many improvements might have taken place by this time in that technology also.
    drrao
    always confident

  • #780048

    Points:5
    A very interesting information shared by the author. I remember when I was in my SSC, there was an exhibition in the main grounds in my town and there were many stalls displaying things from different areas. In one of the stalls an incubator was placed where hen eggs were under incubation and it was a strange sight for me as I did not know that chickens could come out of the eggs under that controlled temperature box. Later, I realised that incubation is the copying of the thermal process that the hen does by sitting on its eggs.
    Now in case of humans, the prematured babies are partially developed ones and require only a few days or months incubation, whatever the case may be, before they are exposed to the open air.
    It is really remarkable that Dr Martin A Couney was able to foresee that process and commercialise it.
    Knowledge is power.

  • #780049

    Points:4
    So far I have observed that doctors take the utmost care of premature babies so that in their normal lives their immunity is not affected. While comparing the cases of the treatment in the present moment, there has been tremendous advancement in medical science to save the lives of ill-fated infants taking birth earlier than expected.
    The most important aspect is the attention of the doctor providing appropriate treatment differing from infant to infant. It would all depend on the calibre and the intelligence of the doctor treating the critically ill - babies. Since sincerity and devotion are the variable factors among doctors to doctors, we cannot be sure of their treatment.

  • #780051

    Points:4
    Dr Martin A. Couney did something for taking care of the premature babies. At that time that was something of a miracle and people wanted to know about that more by witnessing it.
    So, it was shown to the public or professional people by Dr Martin albeit on a fee basis. However the said action by him is termed as unethical. The big question is whether raising funds for such a project is unethical or if Dr Martin was making a personal earning out of it then it was a serious thing and was to be considered as an unlawful activity.
    Thoughts exchanged is knowledge gained.

  • #780053

    Points:2
    At that time, it was considered unethical. So, the law-enforcing authorities stopped the exhibition in 1943.

    But, I find it remarkable that Dr. Martin Arthur Couney got the life-saving idea by observing chicken incubators used as hatcheries.
    Billo Rani kahon to abhi jaan de doon: Oh dear Billo, if you ask, I will give my life


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