Robert Buckman Oncologist, Author, Teacher, Comedian, and Television Personality
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For the full versions of articles in this section see bmj.com OBITUARIES Robert Buckman Oncologist, author, teacher, comedian, and television personality Robert (Rob) Buckman died on 9 October 2011. death ordeal with autoimmune disease in 1981. “I unthreatening. He was a charismatic presenter, He was sleeping on a flight home to Toronto from watched Your Own Worst Enemy, his documentary serious but cheerful, although he claimed to have London; he was 63. Although this multitalented on his battle with dermatomyositis, with colleagues reservations about his physical appearance. With Canadian oncologist, author, and media person- in the doctors’ mess at Guy’s Hospital,” she said. “It his shock of black hair, dark eyes, and impressive ality had long battled with ill health, his sudden had an impact on young trainee doctors suddenly teeth, he once told me that when he was in the passing was a huge shock for those close to him. faced with the patient perspective from one of our operating theatre wearing a mask the nurses saw own . I also remember that as Robert first began Omar Sharif. When he took the mask off, they saw Passionate advocate to make a name for himself as a comedian and his horse.” Buckman devoted his medical and performing performer, my father, an obstetrician and gynae- Buckman trained in medical oncology at the careers to improving patient care. Using his tre- cologist, told him he would need to make a choice Royal Marsden Hospital in London and under- mendous personality, energy, intelligence, comic between medicine and the stage—advice Robert took laboratory research leading to a doctor talents, medical train- successfully ignored.” of philosophy degree. As a junior doctor at ing, and experience, he Robert Alexander U niversity College Hospital in London, he met worked diligently to help Amiel Buckman was Dr Chris Beetles. They teamed up as Beetles and doctors and patients bet- born on 22 August 1948 Buckman to perform live comedy and revue and ter communicate about in London, England, to The Pink Medicine Show. Buckman was also a medical conditions and Bernard Buckman and prolific, award winning author, writing many terminal illness. Always Irene Amiel. He gained journal articles, newspaper columns, radio and a passionate advocate his medical degree television shows (including the popular sitcom, for ill, disabled, and at St John’s College, Doctor On the Go), and 15 books, including an dying people, he was Cambridge University, autobiography . renowned for fighting in 1972. While studying He also fronted the medical television series his own physical frailties medicine he joined the Where There’s Life with Dr Miriam Stoppard, and with a fierce determina- Cambridge Footlights in 1979 he participated in the Amnesty Interna- tion and with courage, Dramatic Club, perform- tional fundraiser The Secret Policeman’s Ball, with wit, laughter—and a ing with Clive James, Rowan Atkinson, Billy Connolly, Eleanor Bron, huge smile. Pete Atkin, Julie Coving- John Cleese, Michael Palin, and Peter Cook. Peter Buckman, a ton, and Russell Davies. writer and literary agent, At one performance he Good communication was constantly amazed “He was a world class communications met a former Footlights In 1985 he moved to Canada to take up an oncology by his younger brother’s expert and, not incidentally, probably actor, John Cleese. He position at Toronto’s Sunnybrook Hospital. He later indefatigable energy: the funniest person on the planet” later worked with the moved to the city’s Princess Margaret Hospital. As a “Rob would give freely of Monty Python’s Flying specialist in breast cancer, and a consultant in edu- his time and offer advice Circus star and with cation and communication, he spoke to thousands to anyone with cancer—or indeed other medical another Footlights revue member, Graeme Garden of doctors and medical students about the secrets problems. His energy and achievements, despite (a co-writer and performer in the comedy television of good communication and gave practical tips on his debility, are admirable and exhausting to con- series The Goodies), making medical information how to break bad news to patients. He was recog- template.” videos called What You Need To Know About. nised as Canadian humanist of the year in 1994. He credits his brother with saving his life. “Rob “Rob Buckman wrote and presented a series of “‘Dr B’ was instrumental in helping bring the insisted I ask for a colonoscopy after my general 45 thirty minute videos for patients, which also notion of empathy to the medical profession,” practitioner had stuck his finger up my bottom and featured John Cleese, and which I directed,” Dr said his colleague David Lavin. “He was a world said there was nothing untoward. It turned out I Garden said. “The idea behind the series was class communications expert and, not incidentally, had stage 3 colonic cancer. I had to have immedi- to present in simple terms information about a probably the funniest person on the planet.” ate surgery. Rob made himself a pain, ringing the variety of conditions for the newly diagnosed He leaves his wife, Dr Patricia Shaw, and their consultants and oncologist to check on how things patient. Despite his physical disadvantages Rob two sons as well as his first wife, Joan van der were going, but certainly the operation, 14 years was tireless, energetically delivering his pieces to Ende, and their two daughters. ago, was a success.” camera for hours at a time. Communication was Barbara Kermode-Scott Stephanie Amiel, Lawrence professor of diabetic of course one of Rob’s consuming interests, and Robert Buckman, oncologist (b 1948; q 1972, medicine at King’s College Hospital, London, was his easy, reassuring manner on screen made the Cambridge), died on 9 October 2011. deeply moved by her cousin’s sharing of his near information he imparted not only clear but also Cite this as: BMJ 2011;343:d7087 BMJ | 5 NOVEMBER 2011 | VOLUME 343 957 OBITUARIES he researched the use of Nd YAG Grant Bates Ian Mackenzie Johnstone lasers in the endoscopic treatment Anthony David Perrett Consultant ear, nose, and throat of gastrointestinal bleeding and Late consultant physician Cornwall and surgeon John Radcliffe Hospital, tumours. Ken continued to have an Isles of Scilly Area Health Authority Oxford (b Tasmania 1953; q 1978; interest in all things endoscopic (b 1935; q Otago 1958; MD FRCP), FRCS), d 18 September 2011. and was an expert therapeutic died after a cerebral haemorrhage Grant Bates did his undergraduate endoscopist, who patiently on 6 August 2011. training in Oxford and at the London taught his skills to a generation New Zealand born, Anthony David Hospital. As a consultant in Oxford he of trainee gastroenterologists. Perrett was working and teaching developed his interest in rhinology He developed a percutaneous in Uganda when the country gained and provided a regional service for gastrostomy tube (PEG) service, independence. Returning to the UK complex rhinological pathology. He Former general practitioner, Penrith, which provided a specialist service he worked at Exeter and Bristol before also had an interest in medical politics, Cumbria, and senior police surgeon to patients and referring clinicians, being appointed consultant physician sat on various committees, and served and force medical officer, Cumbria and he organised the bowel cancer with an interest in diabetes and in numerous organisations. During Constabulary (b 1926; q Edinburgh screening service in the North of endocrinology to the Cornwall clinical his time with the British Association 1949; DRCOG), died from cerebral Tyne area. He is survived by area. He revolutionised diabetes of Otorhinolaryngologists (ENTUK) infarction on 17 September 2011. his wife and two children. care in the county, and his biggest he helped defuse the political time Ian Mackenzie Johnstone did his John Mansfield achievement was a superb diabetes bomb of disposable tonsillectomy National Service in the army in Cite this as: BMJ 2011;343:d6920 centre in Truro. His strongly held instruments that were introduced for the Suez Canal zone and British socialist principles were expressed a short period (and were associated Somaliland. On his return to in his daily work and in his active with a sharp increase in postoperative England he worked in Brighton Graeme Harding McDonald membership in the Medical Campaign haemorrhage rates) to avoid the and Peterborough before taking a Against Nuclear Weapons (MCANW), sterilisation concerns at the time permanent position with the Birbeck Amnesty International, and the Labour regarding variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Medical Group in Penrith. He was a Party. He leaves a wife, Jenny; four disease (vCJD). He leaves his wife, Sue; member of the Association of Police children; and a grandchild. a daughter; and a son. Surgeons. He worked as a school Robert Grundy, David Gibbons Christopher Milford governor and with Neighbourhood Cite this as: BMJ 2011;343:d6928 Cite this as: BMJ 2011;343:d6935 Watch, and he became a church warden, in addition to being a member of many societies. He had Joseph William Thorpe Gilbert Geoffrey Francis successful treatment for bowel Consultant psychiatrist and associate Redfearn cancer in 1998 and in recent years medical director, Belfast (b 1958; Former consultant psychotherapist had a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s q Belfast 1981; FRCPsych), died from London (b 1921; q Cambridge, 1957; disease. Predeceased by his first pancreatic cancer on 30 November MD), died from myelodysplastic wife, Voreda, and his second wife, 2010. syndrome on 9 June 2011. Ann, he leaves a son, a daughter, Graeme Harding McDonald During his National Service, Joseph and three grandchildren. chaired the BMA’s Junior Doctors William Thorpe Redfearn (“Joe”) James Johnstone Committee from 1988 to 1990 and was head of the physiology unit Cite this as: BMJ 2011;343:d6929 was closely involved in negotiations in the army operational research securing the New Deal on hours group.