Final answer:
The statement that hospitals in Europe developed earlier than in the United States is TRUE; Europe's medical history, including the creation of modern sewer systems and the invention of anesthesia, highlights its earlier advancements in healthcare.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement is TRUE; hospitals in Europe had indeed developed much earlier than they did in the United States. The history of European hospitals can be traced back many centuries, with some institutions predating the founding of the United States. For instance, the modern concepts of sanitation and public health advancements in Europe, including the creation of modern sewer systems in cities like London (which took place in 1848 after a choleral epidemic), preceded similar developments in the U.S. The well-documented history of hospitals and medical training, in Europe highlights the earlier establishment and evolution of these institutions compared to the American context.
European healthcare innovations, like the invention of anesthesia in the 1840s, also illustrate the continent's early developments in medical care. The advances in healthcare systems and public health measures were pivotal in creating environments that supported the development of hospitals well before the United States had an established healthcare infrastructure.