Do you really know? Why did the man who invented the lobotomy win a Nobel Prize?
Dec 16, 2024
Discover the shocking story behind the Nobel Prize awarded to Egas Moniz for inventing the lobotomy. Once hailed as a medical breakthrough, this procedure later became infamous for its brutality and was banned by the 1980s. Explore the troubling legacy of lobotomy, including the harrowing experiences of its victims like Rosemary Kennedy, shedding light on the gender disparities in mental health treatment. Delve into the ongoing debate surrounding the revocation of Moniz's Nobel Prize, as critics challenge its historical significance.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Nobel Prize for Lobotomy
- Egas Moniz won the 1949 Nobel Prize in Medicine for the leucotomy (later called lobotomy).
- This procedure, intended to treat psychoses, involved severing nerve fibers in the brain.
Moniz's First Patient
- Moniz's first patient was a 63-year-old former prostitute with melancholy and paranoia.
- Two months post-procedure, Moniz deemed it a success, observing a more docile demeanor.
Rosemary Kennedy's Lobotomy
- Rosemary Kennedy, sister of President John F. Kennedy, underwent a lobotomy for developmental delays.
- The procedure tragically worsened her condition, leaving her unable to walk or speak.