Moysés Paciornik
Encyclopedia
Moysés Goldstein Paciornik (4 October 1914 - 26 December 2008) was a physician born in the city of Curitiba
in the Paraná
state of Brazil
. He graduated in Medicine in 1938. In 1959 he founded the Paranaense Center for Medical Research, which he was director. The center was dedicated to the prevention of cancer and gynecological services extended to Indian reservations in southern Brazil, at which time Moysés became a supporter of squatting
birth, noting that the Kaingang
Indian tribe, despite having many children, had firmer vaginal muscles than city women.
He wrote several books and belonged to the Paraná Academy of Arts, to the Brazilian Academy of Medical Writers and was the pioneer of the pap smear
screening test in Brazil. At the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), he founded the chair of Prenatal Care in 1952.
Moysés Paciornik died on December 26, 2008 of cardiac arrest and was buried on the 28th in Curitiba
.
His son Claudio Paciornik carries on with his work.
Curitiba
Curitiba is the capital of the Brazilian state of Paraná. It is the largest city with the biggest economy of both Paraná and southern Brazil. The population of Curitiba numbers approximately 1.75 million people and the latest GDP figures for the city surpass US$61 billion according to...
in the Paraná
Paraná (state)
Paraná is one of the states of Brazil, located in the South of the country, bordered on the north by São Paulo state, on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, on the south by Santa Catarina state and the Misiones Province of Argentina, and on the west by Mato Grosso do Sul and the republic of Paraguay,...
state of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. He graduated in Medicine in 1938. In 1959 he founded the Paranaense Center for Medical Research, which he was director. The center was dedicated to the prevention of cancer and gynecological services extended to Indian reservations in southern Brazil, at which time Moysés became a supporter of squatting
Squatting position
Squatting is a posture where the weight of the body is on the feet but the knees are bent either fully or partially . In contrast, sitting, involves taking the weight of the body, at least in part, on the buttocks against the ground or a horizontal object such as a chair seat...
birth, noting that the Kaingang
Kaingang
The Kaingang people are a Native American ethnic group spread out over the four southern Brazilian states of São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul. They are also called Caingang and Aweikoma, though some sources list Kaingang and Aweikoma as separate groups...
Indian tribe, despite having many children, had firmer vaginal muscles than city women.
He wrote several books and belonged to the Paraná Academy of Arts, to the Brazilian Academy of Medical Writers and was the pioneer of the pap smear
Pap smear
The Papanicolaou test is a screening test used in to detect pre-cancerous and cancerous processes in the endocervical canal of the female reproductive system. Changes can be treated, thus preventing cervical cancer...
screening test in Brazil. At the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), he founded the chair of Prenatal Care in 1952.
Moysés Paciornik died on December 26, 2008 of cardiac arrest and was buried on the 28th in Curitiba
Curitiba
Curitiba is the capital of the Brazilian state of Paraná. It is the largest city with the biggest economy of both Paraná and southern Brazil. The population of Curitiba numbers approximately 1.75 million people and the latest GDP figures for the city surpass US$61 billion according to...
.
His son Claudio Paciornik carries on with his work.
Publications
- (with Claudio Paciornik) Birth in the Squatting Position (1979) Polymorph Films
- (with Claudio Paciornik) Birth and Rooming-In: Lessons Learned from the Forest Indians of Brazil Birth 1983 Summer;10(2):119.
- Commentary: arguments against episiotomyEpisiotomyAn episiotomy , also known as perineotomy, is a surgically planned incision on the perineum and the posterior vaginal wall during second stage of labor. The incision, which can be midline or at an angle from the posterior end of the vulva, is performed under local anaesthetic , and is sutured...
and in favor of squatting for birth. Birth 1990 Dec;17(4):234, 236. and Birth 1991 Jun;18(2):119. - Use of the squatting position for birth. Birth 1992 Dec;19(4):230-1.