Elizabeth Garrett Anderson was the first Englishwoman doctor to qualify and became a pioneer in opening education in medicine to women.
Way back in 1860, Elizabeth expressed her wish to become a doctor when she was 24. Her wish was turned down by her parents as it was very disgusting to imagine their daughter in an operating theatre with male students. But she was strongly determined about her goal. So, eventually her parents had to give in to let their daughter study medicine.
The battle continued further. Elizabeth had to get herself registered with the top medical men. It was not quite easy as every practitioner felt it would be tough for a woman to stand the horrors of operating theatre. Her attempts to study at a number of medical schools failed. She was not disappointed. She kept meeting people with her noble cause. Finally she got through in the Middlesex Hospital. But very soon, she had to leave the hospital as male students refused to attend classes if she was present in the class.
Seeing Elizabeth’s keen determination, a few doctors offered her lessons in anatomy and other subjects in private. To her disappointment, no hospital in Britain would still register her. In order to gain ward experience, she joined the London hospital as a nurse. And later she obtained M D and emerged as the first British woman doctor.
By— Sajith Cyriac
0 comments:
Post a Comment