Medical Bondage

In Medical Bondage, Cooper Owens delves into the complex and troubling history of 19th-century gynecologists like John Peter Mettauer and James Marion Sims, who conducted experimental surgeries on marginalized women. The audiobook explores how these physicians not only advanced medical practices but also perpetuated harmful racial and gender stereotypes, portraying their patients as "medical superbodies" while denying their humanity. Through an examination of scientific literature and personal communications, Owens illuminates the influence of race and status on the dynamics of doctor-patient relationships across diverse settings, from plantations to urban hospitals.