Conferences
Prof. Dr. Dinu Antonescu: The Impact of Communism on Romanian Medicine
On Sunday, January 19th, 2020, from 11:00 am, at the NTB Small Hall, Prof. Dr. Dinu Antonescu will hold the conference The Impact of Communism on Romanian Medicine.
About the conference
In order to assess the impact of communism on Romanian medicine, an analysis of the medical situation from the years leading up to the Second World War is made initially. It is shown that in 80 years, from 1859 to 1940, Romanian medicine experienced an impetuous development, which placed it in the context of European medicine. This meant not only that its teachers and some of the doctors were fully or at least specialized in prestigious European centres, that the healthcare and university were similar to the West, but that its performances were at European level, that they were appreciated abroad and that there was a permanent connection, a fruitful exchange of ideas between Romanian and Western medicine.
Communism has brought in medicine, as in all other aspects of social life, a complete reversal of values! Only one ideology, the Marxist one, was allowed and any other view on social, historical, political phenomena was forbidden. All medical disciplines were ideologized, especially those that were prone to interpretations, such as biology for example, introducing pseudo-scientific notions and theories. It was almost obligatory for any Western scientist to be placed after a Russian name, as was the aggrandizement of Soviet medical science obligatory. The selection was replaced on the basis of the value with the political criterion and of the social origin, reaching in the medical management positions persons imposed by the communist forums, without the proper training and without moral and professional authority. Lies, dementia, blackmail, terror were used to intimidate and force teachers and physicians to join the communist doctrine and to annihilate their personality and remove those who did not accept the compromise. A complete isolation was imposed behind the "iron curtain", contacts with the Western medical world being allowed only to the communist elites. The gap between Romanian and Western medicine has progressively increased throughout the communist period. Numerous examples are given.
Communism destroyed Romanian medicine and the consequences are felt to the present day! Prof. Dr. Dinu Antonescu
About Dinu Antonescu
Primary physician, orthopaedics - traumatology
Born in 1935, in Ploieşti. Graduated from the Medical Faculty of the "Iuliu Haţieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Cluj (1952 - 1958), as valedictorian.
Activity: Medical assistance: primary doctor since 1971 (Brâncoveanu Clinical Hospital for Orthopaedics); head of the Orthopaedic section at Foisor Hospital 1991 - 2001; Education: UMF Carol Davila: Teacher 1992 - 2001; consulting professor since 2001. Research: PhD in medical sciences 1970; Main scientific researcher first degree since 2001.
Publications: first author in the volumes: Semiology of the locomotor system in the Medical Semiology monograph, edited by I. Bruckner, Medical Publishing House, 2002; Fractures generalities in the Treatise of Surgical Pathology, edited by N. Anghelescu, Medical Publishing House, 2001; Tumors of the Locomotor System, and Surgical Treatment of Inflammatory Rheumatism in the Treatise of Internal Medicine, Rheumatology under the editors R. Paun, Medical Publishing House 1999; News in Orthopaedics and Traumatology in Surgical News, edited by E. Constantinescu, Medical Publishing House 1989; Elements of Osteo-Articular Pathology, Teora Publishing House 2000; Diseases of the Foot in Dečja Ortopedija edited by Zoran Vukašinović, Belgrad 1999; Correction of SpineDeviations, Medical Publishing House, the collection Medicine for all, 1993; Calculation Methods and Experimental Techniques for Stress Analysis in Biomechanics, TechnicalPublishing House, 1986; Orthopaedic and Traumatology Elements for Students, Publisar Publishing House 1999.
Distinctions: The "Romanian Star" National Order to the rank of High Officer 2000, the Order "The Crown of Romania to the rank of Officer", 2014.
Translated by Simona Nichiteanu
