BMJ obituaries index


11 November 2005 Introduction
Requests to trace obituaries are one of the most common reference enquiries that BMA members, other health care libraries and members of the public make. Obituaries are one of the primary sources of biographical information.

Several British medical journals have published obituaries, including The Lancet and the specialist journals, but the BMJ is the only British general medical journal still to publish regular obituaries. It received its largest correspondence ever in support of obituaries after discontinuation was suggested
Go to the BMJ article Growing pressure on BMJ's obituaries here BMJ 1995 310: 5
Go to the BMJ article Obituaries the future here 1995 311: 143

One reader has made a post-mortem of the BMJ obituary column:
Go to this article here: Mawhinney S. A postmortem of the obituaries. BMJ 2001 323: 19 December [Rapid response]

Stephen Lock, a former editor of the BMJ, has also written guidance on how to write an obituary.
Go to this article here: Lock S. How to Do It: Write an obituary for the BMJ. BMJ 1995;311:680-681 9 September

An obituary of the doctor and entrepreneur, David Horrobin, in mid 2003, led to substantial discussion and a response by the BMJ editor.
Go to the obituary of David Horrobin here
Go to the Rapid response by Richard Smith on Reflections on the function of obituaries here

Database of BMJ obituaries
BMA Library staff have compiled a database of obituaries from the BMJ which covers the years from 1968-1995. This can be searched by family name, forename or year of death. Obituaries which predate 1968 can be found through the printed indexes of the BMJ.

The database can also be searched by specialty, place of work, and medical school.

This enhanced database is not currently available via the Library web site but library staff can conduct limited searches for information.

Obituary enquiries from BMA members and institutional members
BMA members who wish to trace an obituary, or other biographical information, should contact:
Richard Jones
BMA Library
BMA House
Tavistock Square
London
WC1H 9JP
tel: 020 7383 6614
fax: 020 7388 2544
Send an email here richard.jones@bma.org.uk

Obituary enquiries from non-members
The BMA Library is a private library for members. Because of this, only limited research can be made for non-members. The sections below indicate which materials are available in the Library for research use. Members are allowed free reference use of materials, some of which can be borrowed. Non-members must buy a readers' ticket before they can make reference use of the materials.

The BMA Archives keep a set of the Dictionary of National Biography (DNB) as well as almost complete sets of the Medical Register and Medical Directory. Staff can undertake research or access can be made to the search room by prior appointment.

BMA Archives
tel: 020 7383 6199
contact: Lee Sands
Send an email to BMA Archives here BMAArchive@bma.org.uk

Alternatively, you should consult one of the other or organisations or libraries listed below.
Go here for information regarding access to the BMA library reading room

Print resources
Lists of different royal colleges are kept at WZ 112.5. These include:

Munk W.
Roll of the Royal College of Physicians of London: comprising biographical sketches of all the eminent physicians whose names are recorded in the annals, from the foundation of the college in 1518 to its removal in 1825, from Warwick Lane to Pall Mall East. Vol 1: 1518 to 1700
BMA location: WZ 112.5 - go to the catalogue here

Power DA
Lives of the fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. 1930-1951
BMA location: WZ 112.5 - go to the catalogue here

Who's Who and Who Was Who
BMA location: B159 - go to the catalogue here

Biographies of well-known individuals are classified at WZ 100 but you should also check our catalogue as many are stored in the basement store.

Obituaries were also included in the Lancet until several years ago and these can also be useful. Special journals may also contain obituaries. GP includes some obituaries. Obituaries can be located by using these resources:

Current work in the history of medicine
BMA location: Current Journal Area - go to the catalogue here
Lists individuals in its subject index.

Morton LT, Moore RJ. A bibliography of medical and biomedical biography 2nd ed.
BMA location: Quick Ref 9 - go to the catalogue here
Lists books and articles about significant figures in biomedicine

National Library of Medicine. Bibliography of the history of medicine
BMA location: Current Journal Area
Lists individual and collective biographies at the start of each volume.

Databases
You may search our MEDLINE Plus database (BMA members only) for information about individuals by using the field extension .pn.
Go to the MEDLINE Plus database here

This will retrieve both historical information and biographical information about individuals still living. Eg: a search for kihara h$.pn. will locate a tribute article about Hitoshi Kihara.

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