Ernest Amory Codman: The End Result of a Life in Medicine

This biography chronicles the life and times of Dr. Ernest Amory Codman, one of the most influential and controversial figures in 20th century medicine. Codman was a Boston surgeon who lived from 1869 to 1940. In his time he was revolutionary and many of his ideas were never well accepted. But he was a pioneer in six different fields of medicine. His most controversial idea was the End Result Idea. Scholarly, yet highly readable, this biographydelves into the life of one of the most fascinating individuals in modern medical history.Discusses the development of the End Result Ideahotly contested at the timewhich asserted that all patients should be followed long enough to determine whether or not their treatment was successful. This concept has since evolved into the now universally accepted notion of outcomes study.Explores Codmans accomplishments in pioneering the field of shoulder surgery; helping to develop the first tumor registry, the first radiology department, and the first anesthesia chart; and establishing the JCAHO commission.

Covers Codmans involvement in caring for victims of the December 1917 Halifax Explosion and the 1918 influenza pandemic.Documents the rejection of Codmans ideas by the medical establishment, the decline of his career, and his descent into poverty.