HIST 405 Week 7: Case Study

Introduction

Public health continues to advance in multiple dimensions to protect populations from diseases, ensure improved patient outcomes, and foster equity, among other objectives. Numerous breakthroughs during the Cold War provided a solid foundation for the current medical and scientific innovations in health practice. Analyzing these breakthroughs provides insights into how public health has evolved and the contributions of distinguished individuals. Historical reflection also improves nursing professionals’ knowledge of past practices that have necessitated laws and regulations that protect vulnerable groups. Therefore, the purpose of this case study is to discuss several key attributes of public health and medicine in the Cold War era.

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Public Health as a Social Movement

Public health is a social movement since it is characterized by collaborative efforts from diverse groups in society that challenge existing systems, advocate for change, and play a pivotal role in shaping health behaviors. The 1960s and 1970s were an era of political and social turbulence that challenged the status quo. As Corbett et al. (2023) explained, civil rights movements, political-cultural fusions, and affirmative action were instrumental in advancing public health by promoting women’s health. A suitable example of collective efforts is medical science. Corbett et al. (2023) mentioned that medical science ensured women’s liberation and better health. This goal was accomplished by the approval of the birth control pill, which freed women from restrictions of pregnancy and childbirth.

Advocacy for change encourages the empowerment and inclusion of diverse social groups in public health. Consequently, social movements cooperate to change the existing narratives about health, foster health equity, and force the abolition of discriminative social and political structures. A common narrative during the 1960s was the notion that the birth control pill would promote sexual promiscuity and undermine marriage (Corbett et al., 2023). On the contrary, it prevented unplanned reproduction and ensured more women acquired education. Generally, such advancements were accomplished through combined efforts from diverse groups that resisted discrimination, retrogressive social norms, and practices that barred some populations from gaining the rights enjoyed by others.

Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring (1962)

Optimal public health requires communities and governments to be committed to preventing environmental harm. Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, published in 1962, raised awareness of the damaging impacts of pesticides, which was followed by multimodal measures for achieving a safe and healthy environment. According to Navidi and Joodaki (2025), Silent Spring demonstrated how pesticides and other chemical products harmed the ecosystem and human health. Increased awareness of the harm drew attention to the need for a sustainable approach to development, which balanced between human interests and the needs of the natural world. Such awareness and increased public outcry compelled governments and industries to formulate interventions that protected the environment and ensured practices that adhered to the principles of sustainable development.

Silent Spring brought a new shift in how individuals, industries, and governments understood and responded to environmental health hazards. Per Arp et al. (2023), Silent Spring identified the many chemicals that found their way into humans’ and animals’ bodies, forcing them to adapt in ways beyond their biological capacity. In order to prevent further damage to the environment, governments and policymakers responded through policy changes and organizations dedicated to protecting and conserving the environment. The policies helped to regulate the manufacture and use of harmful chemicals. Moreover, Silent Spring inspired a collective resolve toward sustainable development by reminding humans of their role in protecting the environment as an ethical obligation.

Outcome of Jean Heller’s Report in the 1970s

Jean Heller’s report in the 1970s summarized the unethical nature of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, including deliberate attempts by researchers to expose participants to harm. As O’Sullivan et al. (2020) narrated, participants were not informed they had syphilis, and researchers withheld its treatment, penicillin, to study disease progression. Generally, the study exemplifies a lack of informed consent in research, a violation of the beneficence principle, and the researchers’ inability to safeguard the welfare of research participants. Jean Heller’s report was a significant move toward the National Research Act of 1974 since it underlined the need for regulations, policies, and committees that enforce ethical research. Following this Act, the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research was formed. The commission, supplemented by the adoption of the Belmont report in 1979, regulates research to ensure it is ethical and does not breach respect, beneficence, and justice principles (O’Sullivan et al., 2020). This regulation further mandates healthcare researchers to ensure autonomous participation through informed consent.

Supreme Court Rulings on Reproductive Health

Like many other healthcare aspects, the right to reproductive health has advanced over time. Corbett et al. (2023) observed that advancements, such as the birth control pill for women, often encounter opposition from different groups. Supreme Court’s rulings interpret such divisive matters and protect the violation of reproductive health rights. In Griswold v. Connecticut (1965), the Supreme Court’s position was that banning contraceptives violated people’s right to marital privacy. In this case, the government has no authority to interfere with intimate decisions within the institution of marriage. The Eisenstadt v. Baird (1972) ruling extended the use of contraceptives to unmarried individuals. Roe v. Wade’s (1973) ruling legalized abortion until the fetus reaches the viability status. Significant changes continue to occur and will have far-reaching impacts on women’s health. A suitable example is the Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization Supreme Court ruling of 2022 aimed to restrict access to legal and safe abortions (Lantz et al., 2023). Enactment of such laws threatens and harms public health by denying deserving individuals a right to evidence-based medical care. Inaccessibility of safe abortions or contraceptives may also increase adverse health outcomes, especially high maternal and infant mortality rates.

Impacts of the Breakthroughs in Health and Medicine

As technology, data, and evidence-based practices continue to dominate healthcare delivery and public health, much credit goes to the breakthroughs in health and medicine during the 1960s and 1970s. During these periods, far-reaching advances in vaccinations, technologies, and surgical procedures were realized. As Hirani et al. (2024) mentioned, demonstrable medical applications using artificial intelligence took off in the 1970s when the first artificial medical consultant was created. Advancements in vaccinations were occurring concurrently, among other innovations, like contraceptive medicine and surgery, which have revolutionized healthcare in multiple dimensions.

The breakthroughs have impacted medical practices, including diagnosis, treatment, and preventive care. Hirani et al. (2024) identified artificial intelligence as an innovation with a high potential to improve clinical diagnosis and support healthcare providers in prescribing the correct medications. Such precision enhances patient outcomes. Vaccinations promote preventive care and reduce the social and financial burden of diseases. For instance, the healthcare system saves approximately $4.6 billion through measles, rotavirus, and pneumococcal vaccines (Nandi & Shet, 2020). These breakthroughs impact scientific research by providing insights into future possibilities (advancements) and new opportunities (gaps) that require further studies. Vaccinations fuel research in immunology to improve knowledge of how body systems react to foreign materials. Continuous scientific research is also needed to improve how vaccines work while developing new ones for emerging health problems.

Conclusion

Public health and medicine in the Cold War salient features include development as a social movement, significant breakthroughs, and enactment of laws/rulings to protect special populations. As a social movement, optimal public health is realized through collective social efforts that challenge existing structures. As further discussed in this essay, Silent Spring paved the way for safer and healthier environments, while Jean Heller’s report in the 1970s raised awareness of the need for ethical research studies.

References

Arp, H. P. H., Aurich, D., Schymanski, E. L., Sims, K., & Hale, S. E. (2023). Avoiding the next silent spring: Our chemical past, present, and future. Environmental Science & Technology, 57(16), 6355–6359. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c01735

Corbett, P. S., Janssen, V., Lund, J. M., Pfannestiel, T., Vickery, P., & Waskiewicz, S. (2023, July 6). U.S. History. OpenStax, OER Commons. Retrieved June 10, 2025, from https://openstax.org/details/books/us-history

Hirani, R., Noruzi, K., Khuram, H., Hussaini, A. S., Aifuwa, E. I., Ely, K. E., Lewis, J. M., Gabr, A. E., Smiley, A., Tiwari, R. K., & Etienne, M. (2024). Artificial intelligence and healthcare: a journey through history, present innovations, and future possibilities. Life (Basel, Switzerland), 14(5), 557. https://doi.org/10.3390/life1405055

Lantz, P. M., Michelmore, K., Moniz, M. H., Mmeje, O., Axinn, W. G., & Spector-Bagdady, K. (2023). Abortion policy in the United States: the new legal landscape and its threats to health and socioeconomic well-being. The Milbank Quarterly, 101(S1), 283–301. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-0009.12614

Nandi, A., & Shet, A. (2020). Why vaccines matter: understanding the broader health, economic, and child development benefits of routine vaccination. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, 16(8), 1900–1904. https://doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2019.170866

Navidi, M., & Joodaki, A. (2025). The study of sustainable development in Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, due to ecocriticism. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 11, 101541. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.101541

O’Sullivan, L., Crowley, R., McAuliffe, É., & Doran, P. (2020). Contributory factors to the evolution of the concept and practice of informed consent in clinical research: a narrative review. Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 19, 100634. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conctc.2020.100634

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Case Study

Assignment

Purpose

The purposes of each case study assignment include the following:

To hone your abilities to research using scholarly sources
To advance critical thinking and writing skills
To compile a response to the prompts provided
To explore a historical topic and make connections to change over time

Required Resources

In your American History course, you will utilize scholarly sources to address questions in the weekly assignments. Please be advised that History.com, Wiki, Wikipedia, or websites such as cliffnotes.com, studymode.com, coursehero.com, and the like are not deemed scholarly sources. Therefore, use your course text and incorporate an additional scholarly source from the Chamberlain Library in your response.

Below is a list of resources you must choose from:

Textbook: Chapters 28 (section 28.5), 29, 30 (section 30.3), and 31
Lesson
Minimum of 4 scholarly sources from the Chamberlain Library resources below:
- The “Popular Data Bases” within the Library Guide for scholarly sources and videos via Search Popular History DatabasesLinks to an external site. or the History Library GuideLinks to an external site..
Please review the following optional scholarly articles (sorted by topic). NOTE: You will need to log in to the Chamberlain Library before accessing these resources.

It’s highly recommended that you download and use the suggested assignment template for each topic to complete this case study.
When you complete the template, upload and submit it in the assignment dropbox on this webpage.

Public Health and Medicine in the Cold War Era (1960–1970s):

The 1960s and 1970s were an era of political and social turbulence that witnessed the continuation of breakthroughs in medicine and public health. Describe public health as a social movement.
Assess the impact of Rachel Carson’s work Silent Spring (1962) on environmental health hazards.
Evaluate the outcome of Jean Heller’s report in the 1970s regarding unethical medical practices surrounding the Tuskegee Syphilis Study. How do you think this was a significant move toward the National Research Act of 1974?
Analyze the Supreme Court’s rulings in Griswold v. Connecticut?(1965), Eisenstadt v. Baird?(1972), and Roe v. Wade?(1973). What changes do we see, if any, regarding these Supreme Court cases today? Defend your answers with documented examples.
Considering the breakthroughs in health and medicine during the 1960s and 1970s, discuss how these achievements have impacted medical practices and scientific research in the new millennium.

Topic 1 Assignment Template Download Topic 1 Assignment Template Open this document with ReadSpeaker docReader(Recommended)

Writing Requirements

Length: 4–5 pages (not including title page and references page)
1-inch margins
Double spaced
12-point Times New Roman font
Title page
References page
In-text citations that correspond with your end reference

Grading

This activity will be graded based on the W7 Case Study Grading Rubric.

Outcomes

CO 3: Explain the influence of historical events on American culture and society.
CO 4: Analyze America’s identity from the founding of the United States to the modern era.
CO 6: Analyze America’s domestic politics and foreign policy in the World.
CO 7: Analyze the relationship and relevance of past events to current events in American history.

Due Date

By 11:59 p.m. MT on Sunday

Rubric

W7 Case Study Grading Rubric – 200 pts

W7 Case Study Grading Rubric – 200 pts
Criteria	Ratings	Pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeLength	5 ptsMeets length requirement 0 ptsDoes not meet length requirement	5 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeContent	15 ptsPaper addresses all aspects of the assignment. 12.75 ptsPaper addresses most aspects of the assignment. 11.25 ptsPaper addresses some aspects of the assignment. 9 ptsPaper addresses few aspects of the assignment. 0 ptsNo effort	15 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeAnalysis	50 ptsThroughout the whole work, content expresses original thoughts or interprets the subject matter in a different perspective. 42.5 ptsThroughout most of the work, content expresses original thoughts or interprets the subject matter in a different perspective. 37.5 ptsThroughout some of the work, content expresses original thoughts or interprets the subject matter in a different perspective. 30 ptsThroughout little of the work, content expresses original thoughts or interprets the subject matter in a different perspective. 0 ptsNo effort	50 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeSupport	50 ptsThroughout the whole work, claims are supported with detailed and persuasive examples; accurate facts and circumstances are used for support. 42.5 ptsThroughout most of the work, claims are supported with detailed and persuasive examples; accurate facts and circumstances are used for support. 37.5 ptsThroughout some of the work, claims are supported with detailed and persuasive examples; accurate facts and circumstances are used for support. 30 ptsThroughout little of the work, claims are supported with detailed and persuasive examples; accurate facts and circumstances are used for support. 0 ptsNo effort	50 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeWriting: Mechanics & Usage	20 ptsThe writing is free of errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation that would detract from a clear reading of the paper. 17 ptsThe writing contains a few errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation, but the errors do not detract from a clear reading of the text. 15 ptsThe writing contains some errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation that need to be addressed for a clearer reading of the paper. 12 ptsThe writing contains several errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation that impede a clear reading of the paper. 0 ptsNo effort	20 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeClarity & Flow	20 ptsThe writing contains strong word choice that clarifies ideas and masterful sentence variety aids with the flow of ideas. 17 ptsThe writing contains varied word choice and sentence structures that clarify ideas and aid with the flow of ideas. 15 ptsThe writing contains word choice and sentence structures that can be revised for better clarification of ideas and flow of ideas. 12 ptsThe writing contains wording and sentence structures that are awkward and/or unclear, impeding the clarity and flow of ideas. 0 ptsNo effort	20 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeSource Integration	20 ptsPaper includes reference to a scholarly source within the case study and properly integrates the source. 15 ptsPaper includes reference to a scholarly source within the case study but does not properly integrate the source. 0 ptsPaper does not make reference to a scholarly source provided within the case study.	20 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeAPA: Citation and Reference Formatting	10 ptsAll sources are properly cited in the text and references page demonstrating a mastery of resource and APA citation reference format. 8.5 ptsMost sources are cited in the text and references page. Some minor errors may exist in citation, but it does not interfere with understanding the source of the information. 7.5 ptsMost sources are integrated, structured, and cited in the text and references page. Some errors may exist in citation that need to be addressed to clarify the source of information. 6 ptsSources are not properly cited in the text/references page. Formatting contains several errors that suggest a lack of understanding of APA format. 0 ptsSources are not cited.	10 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeAPA Paper Format	10 ptsPaper is formatted to include all 6 of the following: title page, references page, Times New Roman font, 12-point font, double spacing, and page numbers. 8.5 ptsPaper is formatted to include 5 of the following: title page, references page, Times New Roman font, 12-point font, double spacing, and page numbers. 7.5 ptsPaper is formatted to include 4 of the following: title page, references page, Times New Roman font, 12-point font, double spacing, and page numbers. 6 ptsPaper is formatted to include 3 of the following: title page, references page, Times New Roman font, 12-point font, double spacing, and page numbers. 0 ptsPaper is formatted to include less than 3 of the following: title page, references page, Times New Roman font, 12-point font, double spacing, and page numbers.	10 pts

Total Points: 200

HIST 405 Week 7: Case Study