Happy Accidents: Serendipity in Modern Medical Breakthroughs by Morton A. Meyers

Happy Accidents: Serendipity in Modern Medical Breakthroughs – by Morton A. Meyers

The power of serendipity – meaning accidental discoveries – has long been recognized by scientists in many fields, but lately has become particularly pronounced in one area: medicine. Morton A. Meyers, MD, FAHA, in his informative and captivating book ‘Happy Accidents: Serendipity in Modern Medical Breakthroughs’, discusses the important role of serendipity in the development of numerous modern-day medical breakthroughs.

Meyers’ book is an examination of serendipitous discoveries throughout the history of medical science. He examines a broad range of treatments and explores how these were accidentally discovered, and then goes on to discuss how serendipity still plays a role in medical research today.

Meyers posits that there exist “accidents of serendipity” whereby scientists “stumble upon something they were not expecting”. He believes that certain types of accidental discoveries can be particularly powerful, claiming that when such serendipity presents itself, researchers should not be discouraged by the fact that it was not always intentional. Rather, he argues, these serendipitous discoveries can often open up exciting possibilities for further exploration and improvement.

Meyers gives many examples of serendipitous discoveries in medicine from all around the world, from the unexpected discovery of the surprising effectiveness of penicillin in fighting infection to the discovery of the link between smoking and lung cancer. He also discusses the accidental discovery of progesterone, and several other innovations in modern medicine that have saved the lives of millions.

Meyers’ book focuses on the importance of preventing burn-out among medical personnel, particularly in the modern era where breakthroughs are defined by scale and speed. He urges researchers to accept and embrace the role of accident and serendipity in the medical field, citing many examples throughout history where mistakes or unexpected results led to a breakthrough. He suggests that scientists remain open to all kinds of possibilities and serendipitous occurrences, rather than only seeking evidence in the way of traditional research.

Meyers concludes that ‘no one is immune to the power of serendipity’. He suggests that despite all the emphasis on method and process in medical research, there still lies a strong potential for unexpected discoveries and new insights.

Overall, ‘Happy Accidents: Serendipity in Modern Medical Breakthroughs’ is an informative and captivating book on the power of serendipity in medical science. It provides a wide range of examples of such discoveries throughout the history of medicine, while pointing out how such serendipitous moments can still be utilized in modern research. It also offers a timely reminder to all medical personnel to keep an open attitude towards accidental discoveries and serendipitous occurrences, rather than only putting faith in traditional scientific method in order to achieve real progress.