How António Moniz Won the Nobel Prize for the Frontal Lobotomy in 1949
The lobotomy, brainchild of António Egas Moniz and enthusiastically championed by Walter Freeman, won a Nobel Prize in 1949. This, despite its “success” being measured by such lofty standards as a patient’s ability to sit quietly in a corner, devoid of personality but mercifully free from the burden of complex thought. One might argue that a well-placed blow to the head could achieve similar results, though perhaps with less fanfare and certainly without a Nobel Prize.
Moniz introduced the prefrontal leucotomy (later called lobotomy) in 1936 as a surgical treatment for mental illness, particularly schizophrenia
At the time, there were no effective treatments for severe mental illnesses. The lobotomy was seen as a breakthrough that could make life more bearable for patients and their families
The procedure gained popularity in many countries, with over 10,000 lobotomies performed in the United States by the time Moniz received the Nobel Prize
However, the treatment was highly…