Health of world leaders: Winston Churchill’s illnesses

Churchill's illnesses ranged from concussion and fractures, to pneumonia, atrial fibrillation and strokes, many occurring at times when his decisions would play a key role in national and world events. 

Clinical Pharmacologist and Toxicologist Allister Vale and Neurologist John Scadding have written the definitive account of Churchill’s major illnesses, from an episode of childhood pneumonia in 1886 until his death in 1965.

The authors will discuss their new book on Winston Churchill’s illnesses (Frontline Books: 15 Oct. 2020) at a free online webinar hosted by Medical Society the Fellowship of Postgraduate Medicine on 25 January 2021 at 4pm UK time

 

Click here to register for the webinar 

Chair: Professor Donald Singer, President, Fellowship of Postgraduate Medicine, London, UK

Panel: Authors Professor Allister Vale, Clinical Pharmacologist and Toxicologist, University of Birmingham, UK and Dr John Scadding, Hon. Consultant Neurologist Emeritus, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London; Dr Anthony Daniels, writer and former psychiatrist, Bridgnorth; Dr Adrian Crisp, Fellow of Churchill College, Cambridge and Chair of the Churchill Archives Committee at Churchill College; Dr John Launer, General Practitioner and Editorial Board member, Postgraduate Medical Journal.

Amongst questions for discussion are those relating to the impact of his acute and recurrent illnesses – and his tobacco smoking, alcohol and other habits – on his ‘mental capacity’, ability to focus and thus on key decisions during his political life, not least those influencing outcomes in the key theatres of the Second World War, planning for the peace at the Yalta and Potsdam conferences, and his final years as Prime Minister. It is tempting for example to speculate that the very treatment aimed at protecting him from illness in Yalta may have instead impaired Churchill's decision-making during that critical conference with fellow leaders and political rivals.

Interesting as a pharmacologist to see notes of adverse drug reactions [from mepacrine to sulfonamides] as a likely cause of some of Churchill's illnesses; and comments on public awareness, and Churchill’s and his wife’s perception of treatments (e.g. with mepacrine or “M & B”) as causes of not feeling very well. The documented idea of “treatment worse than the cure’” must go back at least to inspirations for the Hammurabi Code.

Discussion of Churchill's North African visit touches on a facet of the “VIP syndrome”, from his remarkable efforts to find reasons to avoid medical advice to his eventually conceding to his physician Moran.

Click here for more about the book, the authors and the panel