James Young Simpson and the transformation of attitudes to pain in obstetrics
Abstract
Introducing obstetric anesthesia in the 19th century marked a pivotal stage in the development of medicine, fundamentally transforming the understanding that pain plays in childbirth. The work by James Young Simpson led to the widespread use of chloroform for labor analgesia and demonstrated an opportunity for safe and effective pain control. Simpson’s contributions were of the paramount importance for humanization of obstetric care and emergence of anesthesiology as an independent medical discipline, thereby highlighting a transition from the acceptance of pain to its targeted management.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Medical History and Innovations
Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions
Historical Medical Research and Treatments
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Obstetrics Gynecology and Reproduction
- Publisher
- IRBIS
- Volume
- 20
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 387–391
- Publication date
- 10 May 2026
- Language
- RU