Amir Attaran
Encyclopedia
Amir Attaran is a Canadian
lawyer, immunologist, and law professor.
Currently, Attaran is Associate Professor of Law and Population Health and the holder of the Canada Research Chair in Law, Population Health and Global Development Policy at the University of Ottawa
.
to immigrants from Iran
.
He has earned a B.A. from UC Berkeley, a law degree from the University of British Columbia
, M.S. (Caltech), LL.B. (UBC
) and a D.Phil in immunology from the University of Oxford
.
Attaran is a naturalized Canadian.
, he has argued publicly for the renewed use of DDT
in sub-Saharan Africa to combat malaria
. A famous 2004 article authored by Attaran in The Lancet
was sharply critical of the WHO
for approving ineffective malaria medicines such as chloroquine
in a manner tantamount to "medical malpractice
".http://www.malaria.org/Advocacy%20The%20Beginning/WHO,%20the%20Global%20Fund,%20and%20medical%20malpractice%20in%20malaria%20treatment.pdf Shortly after that article and a pressure campaign led by Attaran, global policy changed very quickly to make use of artemisinin
class medicines.
In 2004, Attaran wrote an opinion piece with Shirin Ebadi
, published in the New York Times, arguing that the World Bank
should incorporate democratic principles in its funding criteria, and avoid funding dictatorships.
On September 9, 2005, he wrote another opinion piece in the Times criticizing the United Nations
for not adopting quantifiable metrics for its Millennium Development Goals
.
In February 2007, he received significant media coverage in Canada when he brought forward testimony by Afghan prisoners captured by Canadians and handed to the custody of the Afghan National Army
, who said they had later been abused by the ANA.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
lawyer, immunologist, and law professor.
Currently, Attaran is Associate Professor of Law and Population Health and the holder of the Canada Research Chair in Law, Population Health and Global Development Policy at the University of Ottawa
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
.
Early life and education
Attaran was born in CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to immigrants from Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
.
He has earned a B.A. from UC Berkeley, a law degree from the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
, M.S. (Caltech), LL.B. (UBC
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
) and a D.Phil in immunology from the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
.
Attaran is a naturalized Canadian.
Advocacy
Attaran is extensively involved with malaria advocacy. Cooperating with the organization Africa Fighting MalariaAfrica Fighting Malaria
Africa Fighting Malaria is an NGO based in Washington DC and South Africa which states it "seeks to educate people about the scourge of Malaria and the political economy of malaria control"...
, he has argued publicly for the renewed use of DDT
DDT
DDT is one of the most well-known synthetic insecticides. It is a chemical with a long, unique, and controversial history....
in sub-Saharan Africa to combat malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
. A famous 2004 article authored by Attaran in The Lancet
The Lancet
The Lancet is a weekly peer-reviewed general medical journal. It is one of the world's best known, oldest, and most respected general medical journals...
was sharply critical of the WHO
Who
Who may refer to:* Who , an English-language pronoun* who , a Unix command* Who?, one of the Five Ws in journalism- Art and entertainment :* Who? , a 1958 novel by Algis Budrys...
for approving ineffective malaria medicines such as chloroquine
Chloroquine
Chloroquine is a 4-aminoquinoline drug used in the treatment or prevention of malaria.-History:Chloroquine , N'--N,N-diethyl-pentane-1,4-diamine, was discovered in 1934 by Hans Andersag and co-workers at the Bayer laboratories who named it "Resochin". It was ignored for a decade because it was...
in a manner tantamount to "medical malpractice
Medical malpractice
Medical malpractice is professional negligence by act or omission by a health care provider in which the treatment provided falls below the accepted standard of practice in the medical community and causes injury or death to the patient, with most cases involving medical error. Standards and...
".http://www.malaria.org/Advocacy%20The%20Beginning/WHO,%20the%20Global%20Fund,%20and%20medical%20malpractice%20in%20malaria%20treatment.pdf Shortly after that article and a pressure campaign led by Attaran, global policy changed very quickly to make use of artemisinin
Artemisinin
Artemisinin , also known as Qinghaosu , and its derivatives are a group of drugs that possess the most rapid action of all current drugs against falciparum malaria. Treatments containing an artemisinin derivative are now standard treatment worldwide for falciparum malaria...
class medicines.
In 2004, Attaran wrote an opinion piece with Shirin Ebadi
Shirin Ebadi
Shirin Ebadi is an Iranian lawyer, a former judge and human rights activist and founder of Defenders of Human Rights Center in Iran. On 10 October 2003, Ebadi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her significant and pioneering efforts for democracy and human rights, especially women's,...
, published in the New York Times, arguing that the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
should incorporate democratic principles in its funding criteria, and avoid funding dictatorships.
On September 9, 2005, he wrote another opinion piece in the Times criticizing the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
for not adopting quantifiable metrics for its Millennium Development Goals
Millennium Development Goals
The Millennium Development Goals are eight international development goals that all 193 United Nations member states and at least 23 international organizations have agreed to achieve by the year 2015...
.
In February 2007, he received significant media coverage in Canada when he brought forward testimony by Afghan prisoners captured by Canadians and handed to the custody of the Afghan National Army
Afghan National Army
The Afghan National Army is a service branch of the military of Afghanistan, which is currently trained by the coalition forces to ultimately take the role in land-based military operations in Afghanistan. , the Afghan National Army is divided into seven regional Corps. The strength of the Afghan...
, who said they had later been abused by the ANA.
External links
- Profile of Dr. Attaran from the University of OttawaUniversity of OttawaThe University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...