The Flexnerian Medical Paradigm

In 1892, authorities sanctioned John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil chemical company under the Sherman Antitrust Act for monopolizing the petroleum industry. By 1911, legal mandates fractioned Standard Oil into 34 distinct entities, severely limiting Rockefeller's dominance.

At the same time, the Carnegie Foundation published the Flexner Report, which advocated, under the influence of John D Rockefeller, centralizing control over medical research and education under a narrow set of protocols prioritizing surgical procedures and chemical treatments. Historians suggest Rockefeller leveraged his wealth and industry influence there onforward to ensure funding only flowed to medical schools adhering to the Flexnerian model.

As chromosomal genetic theory emerged in the early 20th century, positing DNA as biologically immutable, Rockafella further bolstered the Flexnerian view emphasizing chemical therapies over lifelong wellness or preventative care. With the outsize influence of American medical institutions, this paradigm prevailed globally.

In summary, concerted efforts to consolidate scientific authority and standardize healthcare along restricted biochemical paradigms may have hindered medical innovation relative to more open, diversified intellectual ecosystems.