Dr Katharina Dalton, who coined the term 'premenstrual syndrome' and
did much of the early work challenging the 'all-in-the-mind explanations
which caused thousands, if not millions, to suffer in silence, deserved a
better obit than this.
To my knowledge, she was a GP, not a qualified gynaecologist, and she
did most of her research in her spare time. She also ran the PMS clinic at
University College for more than 20 years without payment.
Her research may not have been rigorous, but she had few resources as
a GP and did the best she could. I worked for her and was inspired by her
during the seventies and early eighties. She was knowledgeable and warm,
but could also be difficult at times. For instance, I edited the first
newsletters for her charity NAPS. In one article, I covered the pros and
cons of vitamin B6 which was in the news at the time and being promoted as
a cure. After she saw the draft, she fired me. She felt that her
patients did not need to know anything other than that it was dangerous.
As the obit says, she was a pioneer. But she was more than that. She
was a courageous woman and truly inspirational as a teacher.
A few years ago I put her name forward to 10 Downing Street, with the
help of the then President of the Royal College of General Practitioners.
In my view, she never got the recognition she deserved!
RIP Katharina. And thank you for all your hard work and dedication.
Rapid Response:
Poor obit of Dr. Dalton
Dr Katharina Dalton, who coined the term 'premenstrual syndrome' and
did much of the early work challenging the 'all-in-the-mind explanations
which caused thousands, if not millions, to suffer in silence, deserved a
better obit than this.
To my knowledge, she was a GP, not a qualified gynaecologist, and she
did most of her research in her spare time. She also ran the PMS clinic at
University College for more than 20 years without payment.
Her research may not have been rigorous, but she had few resources as
a GP and did the best she could. I worked for her and was inspired by her
during the seventies and early eighties. She was knowledgeable and warm,
but could also be difficult at times. For instance, I edited the first
newsletters for her charity NAPS. In one article, I covered the pros and
cons of vitamin B6 which was in the news at the time and being promoted as
a cure. After she saw the draft, she fired me. She felt that her
patients did not need to know anything other than that it was dangerous.
As the obit says, she was a pioneer. But she was more than that. She
was a courageous woman and truly inspirational as a teacher.
A few years ago I put her name forward to 10 Downing Street, with the
help of the then President of the Royal College of General Practitioners.
In my view, she never got the recognition she deserved!
RIP Katharina. And thank you for all your hard work and dedication.
Competing interests:
Former student
Competing interests: No competing interests