Douglas Black
Encyclopedia
Sir Douglas Andrew Kilgour Black, (1913–2002) was a physician
in the United Kingdom
, famous as the author of the Black Report
.
He was born in Shetland in 1913, and studied medicine at the Bute Medical School
, University of St Andrews
, graduating with MB ChB
in 1933.
He conducted research into water loss and dehydration, first at Oxford University, and then at the University of Manchester
, where he became Professor of Medicine in 1959.
In 1974 he became the first Chief Scientist at the Department of Health and Social Security
of the UK Government. From 1977 - 1983 he was President of the Royal College of Physicians
.He also served as the President of British Medical Association
and earned himself a lot of respect by taking an uncompromising stand against the apartheid regime in South Africa
.
In the 1970s Black was asked by the Labour
government of the UK to chair an expert committee to investigate health inequalities. The report produced by this committee, popularly known as "The Black Report
" was published in 1980. Although unpopular with the then Conservative
government, it has had a major impact on knowledge on the subject of health inequality since that time, and was published by Penguin Books
as Inequalities in Health: The Black Report and the Health Divide in 1982.
Later, Black chaired the UK government investigation into childhood leukaemia around the Nuclear reprocessing plant
at Sellafield
, Cumbria
, UK
.
Black was created a Knight Bachelor
in 1973, and a Knight of the Most Venerable Order of St John of Jerusalem
in 1989.
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, famous as the author of the Black Report
Black Report
The Black report was a 1980 document published by the Department of Health and Social Security in the United Kingdom, which was the report of the expert committee into health inequality chaired by Sir Douglas Black...
.
He was born in Shetland in 1913, and studied medicine at the Bute Medical School
Bute Medical School
The University of St Andrews School of Medicine is the school of medicine at the University of St Andrews in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland; it used to be known as the 'Bute Medical School' until the 2010–2011 academic year...
, University of St Andrews
University of St Andrews
The University of St Andrews, informally referred to as "St Andrews", is the oldest university in Scotland and the third oldest in the English-speaking world after Oxford and Cambridge. The university is situated in the town of St Andrews, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. It was founded between...
, graduating with MB ChB
Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery
Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, or in Latin Medicinae Baccalaureus, Baccalaureus Chirurgiae , are the two first professional degrees awarded upon graduation from medical school in medicine and surgery by universities in various countries...
in 1933.
He conducted research into water loss and dehydration, first at Oxford University, and then at the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
, where he became Professor of Medicine in 1959.
In 1974 he became the first Chief Scientist at the Department of Health and Social Security
Department of Health and Social Security
The Department of Health and Social Security was a ministry of the British government in existence for twenty years from 1968 until 1988, and was headed by the Secretary of State for Social Services.-History:...
of the UK Government. From 1977 - 1983 he was President of the Royal College of Physicians
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
.He also served as the President of British Medical Association
British Medical Association
The British Medical Association is the professional association and registered trade union for doctors in the United Kingdom. The association does not regulate or certify doctors, a responsibility which lies with the General Medical Council. The association’s headquarters are located in BMA House,...
and earned himself a lot of respect by taking an uncompromising stand against the apartheid regime in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
In the 1970s Black was asked by the Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
government of the UK to chair an expert committee to investigate health inequalities. The report produced by this committee, popularly known as "The Black Report
Black Report
The Black report was a 1980 document published by the Department of Health and Social Security in the United Kingdom, which was the report of the expert committee into health inequality chaired by Sir Douglas Black...
" was published in 1980. Although unpopular with the then Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
government, it has had a major impact on knowledge on the subject of health inequality since that time, and was published by Penguin Books
Penguin Books
Penguin Books is a publisher founded in 1935 by Sir Allen Lane and V.K. Krishna Menon. Penguin revolutionised publishing in the 1930s through its high quality, inexpensive paperbacks, sold through Woolworths and other high street stores for sixpence. Penguin's success demonstrated that large...
as Inequalities in Health: The Black Report and the Health Divide in 1982.
Later, Black chaired the UK government investigation into childhood leukaemia around the Nuclear reprocessing plant
Nuclear reprocessing
Nuclear reprocessing technology was developed to chemically separate and recover fissionable plutonium from irradiated nuclear fuel. Reprocessing serves multiple purposes, whose relative importance has changed over time. Originally reprocessing was used solely to extract plutonium for producing...
at Sellafield
Sellafield
Sellafield is a nuclear reprocessing site, close to the village of Seascale on the coast of the Irish Sea in Cumbria, England. The site is served by Sellafield railway station. Sellafield is an off-shoot from the original nuclear reactor site at Windscale which is currently undergoing...
, Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
, UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Black was created a Knight Bachelor
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in 1973, and a Knight of the Most Venerable Order of St John of Jerusalem
Venerable Order of Saint John
The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
in 1989.
External links
- BMJ Obituary of Sir Douglas Black:"Sir Douglas Black: Professor of medicine whose famous report on inequality and health fell foul of the Thatcher government".
- Obituary at the Guardian 14 September 2002: "Sir Douglas Black: A giant in many fields of medical research, he played a crucial role in shaping the NHS".