Sunday 28 October 2012

Happy Birthday

Today would have been the 100th birthday of Sir Richard Doll.
The man who first established the link between cigarette smoking and lung cancer. Since his original study smoking rates throughout the world have declined steadily, although in the UK the rate has plateaued at a stubborn 20% or so who persist with the habit regardless, and who are all candidates for a Darwin award.
Another man on the shortlist for having saved the most people from premature death in human history.

1 comment:

  1. When I was awarded my Masters Degree from Birmingham University in the 1990s, Richard Doll was made an honorary MD by the University on the same day. Just being there with Sir Richard in the room made a special day very special.

    In an era where we are dealing with an establishment who are wrecking a once-great service, there are not many great people around in my profession of whom I am proud: Doll was one.

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