Peter MacNaughton Dunn

Paediatrician and pioneer of perinatal medicine. Born in Birmingham, UK, on June 23, 1929, he died Bristol, Feb 2, 2021, aged 91 years. When paediatrician Peter Dunn retired from clinical work at the University 1988, did so as Emeritus Professor Perinatal Medicine. It was a title had not only earned but could be said to have invented. “His key contribution [to medicine] lay linking staff looking after pregnant women with newborn babies”, says Andrew Whitelaw, Neonatal Medicine Bristol. “In past there been separation, obstetricians midwives, one hand, paediatricians nurses, other.” believed they should linked part collective professional endeavour that overcame historical separation adult hospitals children's hospitals, hence his advocacy concept This reinforced by British Association Medicine, which co-founded 1976, also served Inaugural President 1980 1984. The son an orthopaedic surgeon ex-nurse, became medical student Cambridge, pursued studies Birmingham Dublin, qualified 1953. His subsequent national service captain Royal Army Medical Corps took him what then Malaya, where returned UK begin accumulating experience general practice, obstetrics, paediatrics. During decade 1959 onwards, worked paediatric registrar researcher south Warwickshire, this time, “he realised something missing way things worked. He saw [interdisciplinary] gap didn't meet up. Doing about mission.” Fleming, Infant Health Developmental Physiology for many years Dunn. As emphasises, “The term ‘perinatal medicine’ exist before Peter. invented it.” But everyone eager embrace concept. “It hugely resisted”, Fleming recalls. “Some people thought it ridiculous concept, stick babies do everything that…Peter fight very hard get accepted.” In 1968, appointed Senior Lecturer Child first post its kind UK. research during time included number highly regarded observational studies. congenital hip dysplasia”, “is still absolutely standard how understand it”. Other treatment polycythaemia role umbilical circulation fetal adaptation extra-uterine life. Having helped set up neonatal intensive care Bristol 1970, clinician use continuous positive airway pressure treating respiratory distress syndrome. enthusiastic advocate accurate record keeping, interests patients guide future planning. approach, combined passion fostering growth medicine, seeded interest developments within field. began study history medicine published, among other things, more than 100 essays Archives Disease Childhood series titled Lessons Past. writing, together advisory lecturing dominated final stages career. “He continued academic until shortly died”, Whitelaw. Although when 60, retained university office 80, resisting efforts administration reclaim it, grounds publishing pieces. “Peter always cheerful”, “and never sort bombastic bully consultants used be”. responded were unpleasant him, some over views virtues approach. would talk down anybody”, adds. listen say, even if disagreed them…He rethink, topics quite fundamental about.” leaves wife, Judy, daughter, Sara, sons, John Robert. online publication has corrected. corrected version appeared thelancet.com 10, 2021 Department ErrorWatts G. MacNaughton Lancet 2021; 397: 1802—In Obituary, second sentence introductory text read “Born years.” correction made 2021. Full-Text PDF