Belding H. Scribner
Encyclopedia
Belding Hibbard Scribner (January 18, 1921 – June 19, 2003) was a U.S. physician and a pioneer in kidney dialysis.
in 1945. After completing his postgraduate studies at the Mayo Clinic
in Rochester, Minnesota, he joined the faculty of the School of Medicine at the University of Washington
in 1951. Scribner was married to Ethel Hackett Scribner and together they had four children.
In 1960, he invented a breakthrough device, the Scribner shunt (along with Wayne Quinton
and David Dillard), that later saved the lives of countless people with end-stage kidney disease around the globe. The first patient treated was Clyde Shields, due to treatment with the new shunt-technique he survived his chronic renal failure for more than eleven years and died in 1971.
Scribners invention created a new problem to clinical practice and put physicians in a moral dilemma: Who will be treated if possible treatment is limited? The ethical issues around this dilemma are known as the Seattle experience. In 1964, Scribner's presidential address to the American Society for Artificial Internal Organs discussed the problems of patient selection, termination of treatment, patient suicide, death with dignity, and selection for transplantation. This experience with selecting who would receive dialysis is often recognized as the beginning of bioethics.
To provide dialysis on a routine basis outside a research setting, Dr. Scribner turned to the King County Medical Society for sponsorship of a community supported outpatient dialysis center. James Haviland
, then president of the Society, worked tirelessly to bring Scribner's vision to fruition. As a result, the Seattle Artificial Kidney Center was established in January 1962. Eventually renamed Northwest Kidney Centers
, it was the world's first out-of-hospital - "outpatient" - dialysis treatment center. the outpatient model of dialysis care has been the standard dialysis care delivery model worldwide since Scribner helped establish the Northwest Kidney Centers
.
In 2002 he received the Albert Lasker Award for Clinical Medical Research
in 2002, together with Willem J. Kolff.
He published many scientific papers and books up until his death in 2003.
Biography
Scribner received his medical degree from Stanford UniversityStanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in 1945. After completing his postgraduate studies at the Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical practice and medical research group specializing in treating difficult patients . Patients are referred to Mayo Clinic from across the U.S. and the world, and it is known for innovative and effective treatments. Mayo Clinic is known for being at the top of...
in Rochester, Minnesota, he joined the faculty of the School of Medicine at the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
in 1951. Scribner was married to Ethel Hackett Scribner and together they had four children.
In 1960, he invented a breakthrough device, the Scribner shunt (along with Wayne Quinton
Wayne Quinton
Wayne Quinton was a developer of over thirty biomedical devices.Quinton received a degree in biomedical technology from the University of Washington in 1959...
and David Dillard), that later saved the lives of countless people with end-stage kidney disease around the globe. The first patient treated was Clyde Shields, due to treatment with the new shunt-technique he survived his chronic renal failure for more than eleven years and died in 1971.
Scribners invention created a new problem to clinical practice and put physicians in a moral dilemma: Who will be treated if possible treatment is limited? The ethical issues around this dilemma are known as the Seattle experience. In 1964, Scribner's presidential address to the American Society for Artificial Internal Organs discussed the problems of patient selection, termination of treatment, patient suicide, death with dignity, and selection for transplantation. This experience with selecting who would receive dialysis is often recognized as the beginning of bioethics.
To provide dialysis on a routine basis outside a research setting, Dr. Scribner turned to the King County Medical Society for sponsorship of a community supported outpatient dialysis center. James Haviland
James W. Haviland
James W. Haviland, MD was an American doctor and specialist in Internal Medicine co-founder of the University of Washington School of Medicine and co-founder of the Northwest Kidney Centers....
, then president of the Society, worked tirelessly to bring Scribner's vision to fruition. As a result, the Seattle Artificial Kidney Center was established in January 1962. Eventually renamed Northwest Kidney Centers
Northwest Kidney Centers
The Northwest Kidney Centers in Seattle Washington was established in 1962 as the first out-of-hospital outpatient hemodialysis treatment center. The model of providing hemodialysis outside of a hospital setting has spread throughout the world...
, it was the world's first out-of-hospital - "outpatient" - dialysis treatment center. the outpatient model of dialysis care has been the standard dialysis care delivery model worldwide since Scribner helped establish the Northwest Kidney Centers
Northwest Kidney Centers
The Northwest Kidney Centers in Seattle Washington was established in 1962 as the first out-of-hospital outpatient hemodialysis treatment center. The model of providing hemodialysis outside of a hospital setting has spread throughout the world...
.
In 2002 he received the Albert Lasker Award for Clinical Medical Research
Albert Lasker Award for Clinical Medical Research
Lasker~DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award is awarded by the Lasker Foundation for the understanding, diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and cure of disease. The award was renamed in 2008 in honor of Michael E. DeBakey...
in 2002, together with Willem J. Kolff.
He published many scientific papers and books up until his death in 2003.