American Decades

Important Events in Medicine and Health, 1980–1989

On January 3, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows the National Cancer Institute to do the first clinical study of the effects of the controversial and allegedly ineffective drug, Laetrile, on humans.
On January 8, Virginia authorities approve the opening of the first "test-tube baby" clinic in the United States.
On January 10, University of California Medical Center at San Francisco researchers devise a fetal test to predict the skin disease epidermolytic hyperkeratosis in an unborn child.
On January 14, the U.S. Surgeon General reports the first signs of an epidemic of smoking-related diseases among women.
On January 15, a federal judge rules the Hyde Amendment, restricting federal financing of abortions under Medicaid, unconstitutional.
On January 16, genetically-engineered bacteria produce human interferon, a disease-fighting protein effective against some viral...

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