Bartrip, P. W. J. (2003) Irving John Selikoff and the strange case of the missing medical degrees. Journal of the History of Medicine and Allied Sciences. 58(1), pp. 3-33. 1468-4373.
- Information
Information
Abstract:
Between the early 1960s and his death, Irving John Selikoff (1915–1992) was the dominant figure in the field of asbestos and health. He was particularly important in helping to establish a causal association between relatively low and spasmodic exposure to asbestos dust on the part of insulation workers and excess mortality rates. Through scientific and other activities, he played as large a part as anyone in destroying the American asbestos industry. This article traces Selikoff's medical education across three continents between 1936 and 1945. This education was relatively brief, patchy, and in some respects substandard. Selikoff never obtained the M.D. degree he repeatedly claimed he possessed. Questions are raised about how he attained such high professional recognition given his very modest educational attainments. Reflections are offered about whether asbestos regulation and litigation might have been different if Selikoff's evasions had come to light before now
Additional Information:
RAE2008 UoA62
Uncontrolled Keywords:
Irving John Selikoff; asbestos; medical education; occupational health; Glasgow; Melbourne; medical fraud; anti-Semitism
Subjects:
Creators:
Bartrip, P. W. J.
Faculties, Divisions and Institutes:
Date:
1 January 2003
Date Type:
Publication
Page Range:
pp. 3-33
Journal or Publication Title:
Journal of the History of Medicine and Allied Sciences
Volume:
58
Number:
1
Language:
English
ISSN:
1468-4373
Status:
Published / Disseminated
Refereed:
Yes
 |