Trauma care and the “lethality perspective”

Abstract

Most physicians likely feel underappreciated at times. In view of societal concerns over the alarming rate increase in health care costs, the public often legitimately questions whether they get their money’s worth. While most physicians are sure we impact individual patients’ lives in a positive manner, proof of societal benefits from medical care is often difficult to ascertain. For this reason a recent study on the value of medical care on the nation’s homicide rate was read with great interest. This study examined the potential impact of better access to emergency transportation and hospital facilities and improved trauma care on the nation’s murder rate. Anthony Harris, a sociologist at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and his associates concluded that advances in medical care, notably in the area of improved trauma care, were the primary reason that homicide rates in this country have declined while interpersonal violence has increased dramatically.