Listen Live
Donate
 on air
    Schedule

    KCRW

    Read & Explore

    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Food
    • Culture
    • Events

    Listen

    • Live Radio
    • Music
    • Podcasts
    • Full Schedule

    Information

    • About
    • Careers
    • Help / FAQ
    • Newsletters
    • Contact

    Support

    • Become a Member
    • Become a VIP
    • Ways to Give
    • Shop
    • Member Perks

    Become a Member

    Donate to KCRW to support this cultural hub for music discovery, in-depth journalism, community storytelling, and free events. You'll become a KCRW Member and get a year of exclusive benefits.

    DonateGive Monthly

    Copyright 2026 KCRW. All rights reserved.

    Report a Bug|Privacy Policy|Terms of Service|
    Cookie Policy
    |FCC Public Files|

    Back to Which Way, L.A.?

    Which Way, L.A.?

    War's Medical Miracles and Who Gets to Use Them

    Wars have been hugely important for medical science that saves lives. In contrast to Vietnam, 90% of the wounded are coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan. That's led to renewed focus on repaying their sacrifices by making their lives better, despite disabilities caused by lost limbs and spinal chord injuries. Innovations include a …

    • rss
    • Share
    By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

    Wars have been hugely important for medical science that saves lives. In contrast to Vietnam, 90% of the wounded are coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan. That's led to renewed focus on repaying their sacrifices by making their lives better, despite disabilities caused by lost limbs and spinal chord injuries. Innovations include a wheelchair that climbs stairs. But like other new, high-tech inventions, it's very expensive. We talk with the inventor, a veteran who has one and others about what it takes and what it costs to restore a semblance of normal life.

    The full episode

    3 of 3
    War's Medical Miracles and Who Gets to Use Them
    1. 0:00Civil Rights in Focus as Obama Closes in on Souter Successor
    2. 0:00How Soldiers are Memorialized in Popular Culture
    3. 0:00War's Medical Miracles and Who Gets to Use ThemYou’re reading this
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Frances Anderton

      architecture critic and author

    • KCRW placeholder

      Peter Rainer

      National Society of Film Critics

    • KCRW placeholder

      Dean Kamen

      Founder, DEKA Research and Development Corporation

    • KCRW placeholder

      Gary Linfoot

      Chief Warrant Officer 4, US Army's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment

    • KCRW placeholder

      Michael Mahler

      Deputy Chief of Staff, Veterans Affairs' Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System

      News

    The full episode

    3 of 3
    War's Medical Miracles and Who Gets to Use Them
    1. 0:00Civil Rights in Focus as Obama Closes in on Souter Successor
    2. 0:00How Soldiers are Memorialized in Popular Culture
    3. 0:00War's Medical Miracles and Who Gets to Use ThemYou’re reading this
    Back to Which Way, L.A.?