Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
Medical Technology
- Also known as laboratory medicine, clinical laboratory science, and medical laboratory science
- Walters (1966)
The health profession concerned with performing laboratory analyses in view of obtaining information
necessary in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases as well as in the maintenance of good health
- Heinemann (1963)
Application of the principles of natural, physical, and biological sciences in laboratory procedures to aid in the
diagnosis and treatment of diseases
Phlebotomist
- An individual trained to draw blood either for laboratory tests or for blood donations.
- In the Philippines, a medical technologist is required to be skilled in phlebotomy. Nowadays, phlebotomy is a skill
confined not only to medical technologists but also to other health care practitioners as well, provided that they were
given certification by a reputed certifying or training body.
Cytotechnologist
- Laboratory practitioners specialized in the preparation of cell slides for microscopic study and detection of cellular
abnormalities
Histotechnologists
- Medical technologists who are specialized in preparation of solid tissue samples for examination under the microscope
Early Beginnings
Vivian Herrick traces the beginning of medical technology to as early as 1550 BC when the first documented records of
parasites and parasitic infections were made.
a. Ebers papyrus (1500 BC)
The oldest preserved Egyptian compilation of medical texts.
Contains the first accounted records of intestinal parasitic infection caused by Ascaris lumbricoides and Taenia
species
Ruth Williams believe that medical technology began from the medieval period.
e. Medieval Period (1098-1438)
Diagnosis by ‘water casting’ (uroscopy) was widely practiced.
Urinalysis became commonplace and was a practice that was followed with exaggerated zeal. Patients submitted
their urine specimen in decorative flasks.
Physicians who failed to examine the urine samples were subjected to public beatings.
Anna Fagelson prefers to date the beginnings of medical technology in the 14th century
f. Alessandra Gillani (14th century)
Was hired at the University of Bologna by Mondino de’ Liuzzi, an Italian doctor, to perform some tests and other tasks
in the laboratory
Unfortunately, Gillani died from a laboratory-acquired disease in 1326
b. Rudolf Virchow
Recognized as the father of microscopic pathology and is credited to have established the world’s first pathology
laboratory
Was the first scientist/ physician of the time who emphasized the study of the manifestation of diseases and
infections, which are visible at the cellular level by means of a microscope.
n. University of Minnesota
Was the first to offer a degree program on medical technology in 1923
o. 1950’s
Medical technologists in the United States sought professional recognition from the government of their educational
qualifications through licensure laws
b. June 1945
Staff of the 6th US Army left the facility after endorsing the newly established clinical laboratory to the National
Department of Health. However, the laboratory facilities were not fully utilized and was later non-operational.
d. Dr. de Roda, Dr. Sta. Ana, and Dr. Tirso Briones (1954)
Conducted a six-month training course with certification. (However, the project did not last long since formal
education began in the same year)
In the Philippines, a licensed medical technologist’s roles, responsibilities, and expected conduct are governed by the Medical
Technology Code of Ethics.
Medical Technology Code of Ethics
As I enter into the practice of Medical Technology, I shall accept the responsibilities inherent to being a professional; I shall uphold the
law and shall not engage in illegal work nor cooperate with anyone so engaged; I shall avoid associating or being identified with any
enterprise of questionable character;
I shall work and act in a strict spirit of fairness to employer, clients, contractors, employees and in a spirit of personal helpfulness and
fraternity toward other members of the profession;
I shall use only honorable means of competition for professional employment or services and shall refrain from unfairly injuring, directly
or indirectly, the professional reputation, projects or business of a fellow medical technologist; I shall accept employment from more than
one employer only when there is no conflict of interest;
I shall perform professional work in a manner that merits full confidence and trust carried out with absolute reliability, accuracy, fairness
and honesty; I shall review the professional work of other medical technologists, when requested, fairly and in confidence whether they
are subordinates or employees, authors of proposals for grants or contracts, authors of technical papers or other publications or involved
in litigation;
I shall restrict my praises, criticisms, views and opinions within constructive limits and shall not use the knowledge I know for selfish ends;
I shall treat any information I acquired about individuals in the course of my work as strictly confidential, and may be divulged only to
authorized persons or entities or with consent of the individual when necessary;
I shall report any infractions of these principles of professional conduct to the authorities responsible of enforcement of applicable laws
or regulations, or to the Ethics Committee of the Philippine Association of Medical Technologists as may be appropriate.
To these principles, I hereby subscribe and pledge to conduct myself at all times in a manner befitting the dignity of my profession.
References:
Suba, S., & Florida, J. (2014) . Introduction to Medical Technology with Science, Technology, and Society. Pasig: Cengage Learnng
Asia Pte Ltd
Cardona, C., Garcia-Meim, R., & Martin, G. (2015). Introduction to Medical technology Practice in the Philippine Setting. Quezon City:
C&E Publishing, Inc.
Benitez, P., Dumaoal, O., Estrella, F., & Mortel, F., Nava, M.R. (2019). Principles of Medical Laboratory Science 1. Quezon City: C&E
Publishing, Inc.
Sunderman Sr., F.W. (1993). Evolution of Clinical Science: An Overview. Annals of Clinical and Laboratory Science, 23(4), pp. 231-248