# Geoffrey Chamberlain > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Geoffrey_Chamberlain > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Geoffrey_Chamberlain.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Chamberlain > Source revision: 1356919755 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Obstetrician and gynaecologist (1930–2014)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}} {{EngvarB|date=February 2020}} {{Infobox medical person | honorific_prefix = | name = Geoffrey Chamberlain | honorific_suffix = | image = Professor Geoffrey Chamberlain, 6 June 2000.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption =Chamberlain in 2000 | birth_name = Geoffrey Victor Price Chamberlain | birth_date = 21 April 1930 | birth_place = [Cardiff](/source/Cardiff), Wales | death_date = 30 October 2014 (aged 84) | death_place = | education = [Cowbridge Grammar School](/source/Cowbridge_Grammar_School), [University College London](/source/University_College_London) | years_active = | known_for = President of the [Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists](/source/Royal_College_of_Obstetricians_and_Gynaecologists), 1993–1994 | notable_works = *''Obstetrics by Ten Teachers'' * ''Home Births: The Report of the 1994 Confidential Enquiry by the National Birthday Trust Fund'' | other_names = | profession = [Gynaecologist](/source/Gynaecologist) and [Obstetrician](/source/Obstetrician) | work_institutions = [St George's Hospital](/source/St_George's_Hospital), [Tooting](/source/Tooting) }} '''Geoffrey Victor Price Chamberlain''' (21 April 1930 – 30 October 2014) was a professor and the academic head at the department of [obstetrics](/source/obstetrics) and [gynaecology](/source/gynaecology) at [St George's Hospital](/source/St_George's_Hospital), London, editor-in-chief of the ''[British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology](/source/British_Journal_of_Obstetrics_and_Gynaecology)'' and president of the [Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists](/source/Royal_College_of_Obstetricians_and_Gynaecologists) (RCOG). At one time, he was president of the obstetrics and gynaecology section at the [Royal Society of Medicine](/source/Royal_Society_of_Medicine). He also authored numerous textbooks and journal articles on obstetrics. Chamberlain took considerable interest in [maternal mortality](/source/Maternal_death) and frequently presented significant importance to the triennal ''[Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Death Reports](/source/Confidential_Enquiry_into_Maternal_Deaths_in_the_UK)''. In his role with the National Birthday Trust, he directed four national surveys of British obstetrics. He resigned from his academic, editorial and presidential posts following his acceptance of a '[gift authorship](/source/Academic_authorship)' on a fraudulent research paper written by a colleague. Subsequently, Chamberlain moved to Wales where he published an internationally acclaimed textbook, ''From Witchcraft to Wisdom'', whilst teaching history of medicine as an Apothecaries' lecturer. ==Early life== Geoffrey Chamberlain was born on 21 April 1930 in [Cardiff](/source/Cardiff) to Albert Victor Chamberlain, the Lord Mayor of Cardiff's secretary, and Irene May Chamberlain née Price.{{cite web |title=Obituary: Geoffrey Victor Price Chamberlain |url=https://www.rcog.org.uk/en/news/membership-news/obituaries/obituary-geoffrey-victor-price-chamberlain/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029173907/https://www.rcog.org.uk/en/news/membership-news/obituaries/obituary-geoffrey-victor-price-chamberlain/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 October 2021 |website=Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists |access-date=12 October 2021 }}{{Cite web|url=https://livesonline.rcseng.ac.uk/biogs/E006425b.htm|title=Chamberlain, Geoffrey Victor Price – Biographical entry – Plarr's Lives of the Fellows Online|last=England|first=Royal College of Surgeons of|website=livesonline.rcseng.ac.uk|access-date=19 April 2018}} His early education was at [Llandaff Cathedral School](/source/Llandaff_Cathedral_School), followed by [Cowbridge Grammar School](/source/Cowbridge_Grammar_School), before he went on to [University College London](/source/University_College_London) to study medicine. His flair at rugby at school earned him the nickname "Bodger".Witness Seminar Maternal 2000, p. 7. ==Medical career== Chamberlain's early appointments included placements at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School, [Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children](/source/Great_Ormond_Street_Hospital_for_Children), [Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital](/source/Queen_Charlotte's_and_Chelsea_Hospital) for Women, and [King's College Hospital](/source/King's_College_Hospital), London. Subsequently, between 1965 and 1966, he taught at the [George Washington Hospital](/source/George_Washington_University_Hospital), Washington DC, USA. It was during these years that he performed his controversial [fetal](/source/fetal) and [placenta](/source/placenta)l research.{{Cite book|url=https://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/bitstream/handle/123456789/2776/TANSEYMaternalCare2001FINAL.pdf?sequence=2|title=Maternal care: witness seminar transcript|date=2001|publisher=Wellcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine at UCL |editor=Christie, D. A. |editor2=Tansey, E. M. |isbn=978-0-85484-079-3|location=London|page=5|oclc=49006847}}{{cite book|last=Rini|first=Suzanne M.|title=Beyond Abortion: A Chronicle of Fetal Experimentation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3iVCCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT75|year=1988|publisher=TAN Books|location=Avon, New Jersey|isbn=0-89555-487-9|pages=75–76}}{{cite book|last=Ramsey|first=Paul|editor=Margaret A. Farley|title=The Patient as Person: Explorations in Medical Ethics|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gzPpJJj8S7UC&pg=PA17|year=2002|publisher=Yale University Press|location=USA|isbn=0-300-09396-9|page=17}} In 1954, he entered the [Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve](/source/Royal_Naval_Volunteer_Reserve), before retiring in 1974 with the rank of [surgeon commander](/source/Commander). He held a consultant post at Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital for 12 years from 1970. In 1982 he was appointed professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at St George's Hospital Medical School, where he remained until his resignation in 1995. In 1989, Chamberlain was elected president of the section of obstetrics and gynaecology at the Royal Society of Medicine. Between 1971 and 1994, he was actively involved in several areas of the RCOG, being elected vice-president from 1984 to 1987 and president from 1993 to 1994 and being a member of the council throughout that whole time. He was also the academic head of the department and editor-in-chief of the ''British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology''.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rcog.org.uk/en/about-us/history-of-the-college/presidents-of-the-rcog/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908174839/https://www.rcog.org.uk/en/about-us/history-of-the-college/presidents-of-the-rcog/|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 September 2015|title=Presidents of the RCOG|website=Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists|access-date=23 April 2018}} In 1994, Chamberlain carried out the 1994 ''Home Birth Study'', which demonstrated the safety of planned home births.{{cite book|last=Flint|first=Caroline |editor=G. Chamberlain |editor2=A. Wraight |editor3=P. Crowley |title=Home Births: The Report of the 1994 Confidential Enquiry by the National Birthday Trust Fund|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BCModOVgNdMC&pg=PR10|year=1997|publisher=The Parthenon Publishing Group Limited|isbn=978-1-85070-934-3|pages=9–10|chapter=Forward}} Chamberlain took considerable interest in maternal mortality, often recommending [GP](/source/General_Practitioner) [Irvine Loudon](/source/Irvine_Loudon)'s book, ''[Death in Childbirth](/source/Death_in_Childbirth_(book))'', which he described as "first rate", authoring articles on the subject and presenting significant importance to the triennal ''[Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Death Reports](/source/Confidential_Enquiry_into_Maternal_Deaths_in_the_UK)''.Witness Seminar Maternal 2000, p. 5.{{Cite journal|last=Chamberlain|first=Geoffrey|date=November 2006|title=British maternal mortality in the 19th and early 20th centuries|journal=Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine|volume=99|issue=11|pages=559–563|issn=0141-0768|pmc=1633559|pmid=17082299|doi=10.1177/014107680609901113}} In addition, he directed four national surveys of British obstetrics in his role with the National Birthday Trust. In 1994, Chamberlain resigned as editor-in-chief of the ''British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology'' and as president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists after unknowingly counter-signing a dishonest report on a fabricated story about a successful transplant of an [ectopic](/source/ectopic_pregnancy) fetus into the [uterine cavity](/source/uterus).{{Cite journal|date=17 June 1995|title=Consultant struck off for fraudulent claims|url=https://www.bmj.com/content/310/6994/1554.2|journal=BMJ|volume=310|issue=6994|pages=1554–1555|doi=10.1136/bmj.310.6994.1554a|issn=0959-8138|pmid=7787636|s2cid=28734773 |last1=Dyer |first1=O. |url-access=subscription}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/consultant-sacked-over-pregnancy-claims-1388460.html|title=Consultant sacked over pregnancy claims|date=24 December 1994|work=The Independent|access-date=19 April 2018}}{{cite book|last=Studd|first=J.W.W. |title=The Yearbook of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists 1995|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hN0KZpwJQDcC&pg=PR13|year=1995|publisher=RCOG Press|isbn=978-0-902331-77-8|page=13}} The concept of 'gift authorship' was not uncommon at the time, where, without contributing, a senior name could appear on a paper. It could have happened in many other journals.{{Cite journal|last=Smith|first=Richard|date=May 2006|title=Research misconduct: the poisoning of the well|journal=Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine|volume=99|issue=5|pages=232–237|issn=0141-0768|pmc=1457763|pmid=16672756|doi=10.1177/014107680609900514}}{{cite journal|last=Smith|first=Richard |title=The Trouble with Medical Journals|journal=Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine |volume=99 |issue=3 |pages=115–119 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bizGVqFqOfgC|year=2006|publisher=Royal Society of Medicine Press |isbn=978-1-85315-673-1|pmid=16508048 |doi=10.1177/014107680609900311 |pmc=1383755 }} Over the years, Chamberlain had witnessed an increase in attendance of the partner during [labour](/source/Childbirth) and once said that "the presence of the husband in the labour room has been an advance", they "can act as a referee between [midwife](/source/midwife), doctor and the woman".{{Cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6187220.stm|title=Childbirth: the professional view|date=13 December 2006|access-date=23 April 2018}} Between 2000 and 2008, he remained at [Swansea University](/source/Swansea_University) as an Apothecaries' lecturer in history of medicine. During this time, he produced an internationally successful textbook on the history of obstetrics, ''From Witchcraft to Wisdom''.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/strategy-and-annual-reports/annualreport2007_final.pdf|title=RCOG Annual Reports 2007|website=RCOG.org.uk|access-date=25 April 2018|archive-date=26 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180426011642/https://www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/strategy-and-annual-reports/annualreport2007_final.pdf|url-status=dead}} ==Personal and family== Chamberlain appreciated opera and travel. He carved wooden [decoy ducks](/source/Duck_decoy_(structure)) and enjoyed wearing his [Dr. Martens](/source/Dr._Martens).{{Cite news|url=https://rcogheritage.wordpress.com/2014/11/06/fantastic-finds-for-friday-professor-geoffrey-chamberlain/|title=Fantastic Finds for Friday: Professor Geoffrey Chamberlain|date=6 November 2014|work=Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Heritage Blog|access-date=19 April 2018}} He married [Jocelyn Olivia Kerley](/source/Jocelyn_Chamberlain) in 1956; they had five children together. ==Death and legacy== Chamberlain died on 30 October 2014 at the age of 84.[https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/search-results United Kingdom Probate Search: CHAMBERLAIN, GEOFFREY VICTOR PRICE] The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists presents the Professor Geoffrey Chamberlain award every three years to outstanding trainees. ==Selected publications== * {{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j5CGDAAAQBAJ&dq=British+births+1970+%3A+a+survey+under+the+joint+auspices+of+the+National+Birthday+Trust+Fund+and+the+Royal+College+of+Obstetricians+and+Gynaecologists.+Heinemann+Medical%2C+Londo&pg=PR3|title=British births 1970: a survey under the joint auspices of the National Birthday Trust Fund and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Volume 1: The First Week of Life|publisher= Heinemann Medical|location= London|year= 1975 |isbn=978-0-433-05470-2|author=Geoffrey Chamberlain}} * {{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jbVsAAAAMAAJ&q=Pain+and+its+relief+in+childbirth+:+the+results+of+a+national+survey+conducted+by+the+National+Birthday+Trust |title=Pain and its relief in childbirth: the results of a national survey conducted by the National Birthday Trust|author1=Geoffrey Chamberlain |author2=Ann Wraight |author3=Philip J. Steer |publisher= [Churchill Livingstone](/source/Churchill_Livingstone) |year= 1993 |isbn=978-0-443-04658-2}} * {{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OB6jQgAACAAJ |title=Obstetrics by Ten Teachers 16E |author=Geoffrey Chamberlain |author2=Sara Purdy |publisher=Taylor & Francis|year= 1995 |isbn=978-0-340-57313-6}} * {{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BCModOVgNdMC&pg=PR9 |title=Home Births: The Report of the 1994 Confidential Enquiry by the National Birthday Trust Fund'|publisher= The Parthenon Publishing Group|year= 1997 |editor=Geoffrey Chamberlain |editor2=A. Wraight |editor3=P. Crowley |isbn=978-1-85070-934-3}} * {{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7fNqQgAACAAJ |title=ABC of Antenatal Care|publisher= Wiley|year= 2002 |author=Geoffrey Chamberlain |author2=Margery Morgan |isbn=978-0-7279-1692-1}} * {{cite journal|pmc=1633559|journal=[Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine](/source/Journal_of_the_Royal_Society_of_Medicine)|doi=10.1177/014107680609901113|title=British Maternal Mortality in the 19th and Early 20th Centuries |year=2006 |last1=Chamberlain |first1=Geoffrey |volume=99 |issue=11 |pages=559–563 |pmid=17082299 }} * {{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SuNWbWQ8sY8C&pg=PA318 |title=From Witchcraft to Wisdom: A History of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in the British Isles|location= London|publisher= [Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists](/source/Royal_College_of_Obstetricians_and_Gynaecologists)|year= 2007|isbn=978-1-904752-14-1|author=Geoffrey Chamberlain}} ==References== {{Reflist}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Chamberlain, Geoffrey}} Category:1930 births Category:2014 deaths Category:Academics from Cardiff Category:English gynaecologists Category:English obstetricians Category:People educated at Cowbridge Grammar School Category:People educated at The Cathedral School, Llandaff Category:Royal Navy Medical Service officers Category:Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve personnel Category:Alumni of University College London Category:Fellows of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Category:History of surgery Category:British textbook writers --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Geoffrey Chamberlain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Chamberlain) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Chamberlain?action=history)). 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