What historical event prompted significant changes in medical practices and innovations during the 20th century?

The significant changes in medical practices and innovations during the 20th century can largely be attributed to the impact of World War I and World War II. These two global conflicts acted as catalysts for advancements in medicine for several reasons.

Firstly, the large scale of the wars led to unprecedented numbers of injuries, necessitating rapid advancements in surgical techniques and the development of new medical treatments to care for wounded soldiers. For example, the need for effective triage, blood transfusions, and the use of antibiotics, particularly penicillin after its discovery, transformed battlefield medicine and had lasting implications for civilian healthcare.

Secondly, the wars spurred innovations in medical technology, including advancements in anesthesia, wound care, and rehabilitation. The pressures of wartime logistics and the urgent need for solutions accelerated research and development efforts that might have taken much longer in peacetime.

Additionally, the experience and knowledge gained during these wars resulted in a more organized and systematically structured approach to public health and medicine following the conflicts, as nations recognized the importance of maintaining a healthy population for future stability.

In contrast, while the Great Depression, the Industrial Revolution, and the Civil Rights Movement each had profound effects on society in various ways, they did not directly drive medical innovations to the extent that the world