Modern medicine (AQA GCSE History): Model Answers
How useful is Source A to a historian studying issues in the modern treatment of disease?
Explain your answer using Source A and your contextual knowledge. [8 marks]
Source A is very useful to a historian studying issues related to modern treatment as it highlights how easily accessible medicine has become in contemporary times. By comparing antibiotics to sweets and showing them mixed in a bowl, the image illustrates how people misuse these medicines. This was not a concern in the past when such drugs were only available to a limited few. However, in modern times, the overprescription of antibiotics has led to bacteria becoming more resistant, making them increasingly dangerous. The key issue with modern medicine highlighted here is the overprescription of medications.
Source A is also valuable for understanding the global nature of modern medical issues, as it is part of a 2017 "worldwide campaign." The need for such an image on a global scale underscores how mistakes in modern medicine can have international consequences, making these issues far more challenging to address. A recent example of this is the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to worldwide isolation and highlighted the global scale of modern medical challenges. Another insight from the source is how these issues now frequently affect the entire world.
Examiner Comments:
This response achieves a Level 3 rating. It provides a developed evaluation of the source's content by contextualising it within the history of antibiotics and the problem of antibiotic resistance. Additionally, it acknowledges the global audience for the source, although further substantiation could enhance the argument. Thus, it merits a higher mark within Level 3.