R.I.P. Bernard Lown

Discussions of things currently in the news.

R.I.P. Bernard Lown

Postby Arneb » Thu Feb 18, 2021 5:09 pm

A bit specialist, maybe, but one of the great physicicans of the 20th century has left us, at age 99. Bernard Lown did groundbreaking scientific work on the conducting system of the heart, culminating in the development of the defibrllator and the synchronized cardioverter.

Even more importantly, Lown founded the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW), with his Soviet colleague, Evgeny Ivanovich Chasov. The thinking was, since nuclear war is obviously the worst health risk human society could possibly face, physicians should initiate some prevention. They were seen with a critical eye, because obiviously, Soviet physicians joined in the effort with permission and support from high up, so there was always the suspicion that the Western doctors made themselves the useful idiots of Soviet "anti-war" (read: Anti-Western) propaganda. But in the times of Glasnost and Perestroika, matters took a more favourable course, and the two founders jointly received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1985.

Most importantly to me, Bernard Lown was an exemplary personality as a physician, with exactly the mixture of science-oriented professionalism, and a warm, caring heart that one should have for the job. If you want to meet my personal role model on how to be a doctor, look no further than his "The Lost Art of Healing", available at modest cost in well-sorted bookstores. During my fat-cat years, I always had few copies of it in my office, to be inscribed with a quick handwritten dedication when a gift for someone was needed.

Here's to life truly well lived.
Non sunt multiplicanda entia praeter necessitatem
User avatar
Arneb
Moderator
Moderator
German Medical Dude
God of All Things IT
 
Posts: 70001
Joined: Thu Nov 23, 2006 8:22 pm
Location: Potsdam, Germany

Re: R.I.P. Bernard Lown

Postby MM_Dandy » Thu Feb 18, 2021 8:30 pm

Sounds like someone that we will miss, whether we knew him or not.
User avatar
MM_Dandy
Moderator
Moderator
King of Obscurity
 
Posts: 4927
Joined: Thu May 12, 2005 9:02 pm
Location: Canton, SD, USA

Re: R.I.P. Bernard Lown

Postby Heid the Ba » Thu Feb 18, 2021 8:31 pm

*tips hat to the good doctor*
Get it up ye.
User avatar
Heid the Ba
Enlightened One
Enlightened One
Tree hugging, veggie, sandal wearing, pinko Euroweasel
Mr. Sexy Ass
 
Posts: 107531
Joined: Wed Aug 02, 2006 12:20 pm
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland

Re: R.I.P. Bernard Lown

Postby Lianachan » Thu Feb 18, 2021 9:58 pm

Most certainly a life well lived. I wonder how many lives continued to be lived due to his work.
A-nis bidh fios aig daoine nuair a tha mi a 'mionnachadh aig dhaibh.
User avatar
Lianachan
Enlightened One
Enlightened One
Tits and Nazis though.... Worth investigating
 
Posts: 8742
Joined: Fri Mar 05, 2010 5:12 pm
Location: A' Ghàidhealtachd, Alba

Re: R.I.P. Bernard Lown

Postby Enzo » Fri Feb 19, 2021 3:07 am

They could never quite get synchronized cardioversion into the olympics as a sport...
E Pluribus Condom
User avatar
Enzo
Enlightened One
Enlightened One
Chortling with glee!
 
Posts: 11956
Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2006 5:30 am
Location: Lansing, Michigan


Return to Current Events and Politics

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 12 guests