• The Boy with an Ice Pick in his Brain

  • Aug 25 2024
  • Length: 29 mins
  • Podcast

The Boy with an Ice Pick in his Brain

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  • Summary

  • This is the story of 12 year old Howard Dully. The year is 1960. His stepmother is finding him to be ‘unbelievably defiant’ so she takes him to a private California hospital. There he is evaluated by Dr Walter Freeman who diagnoses him with childhood schizophrenia.

    For this he prescribes a brutal procedure which would alter Howard’s life forever - a lobotomy. Dr Freeman performed thousands of these operations across the United States, including on Rosemary Kennedy, JFK’s sister. Julia and Adam hear from Jack El-Hai, journalist, medical writer and author of The Lobotomist: A Maverick Medical Genius and His Tragic Quest to Rid the World of Mental Illness.

    Presenters: Dr Adam Rutherford and Dr Julia Shaw Producers: Rufaro Faith Mazarura and Simona Rata Assistant Producer: Mansi Vithlani Executive Producer: Jo Meek Sound Design: Craig Edmondson Commissioner: Dan Clarke

    An Audio Always production for BBC Radio 4.
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