Peter Diggory
Encyclopedia
Dr Peter Lionel Carr Diggory (6 January 1924 – 22 November 2009) was a British gynaecologist and one of the first to support calls for the legalisation of abortion
. He was the central medical figure in the Abortion Law Reform Association
in the 1960s and medical adviser to David Steel
's Private Member's Bill
that became the Abortion Act 1967
.
, Hertfordshire
. Diagnosis with polio as a child interrupted Diggory's schooling, but he went on to attend Royal Grammar School Worcester
. He studied mathematics at University College London
, leading to work with C. P. Snow
on the development of radar
in the Second World War. After the war, he studied medicine at University College Hospital
, where he met his future wife, Patricia (died 2002), with whom he had two children.
He became a consultant gynaecologist at Queen Charlotte's and Westminster hospitals, where he came to support legalising abortion. At Kingston hospital, where he was appointed a consultant in 1961, he was responsible the care of the 400 women admitted each year suffering from the comnplications arising from illegal abortions. In a study published in The Lancet
, based on 1,000 histories, he was able to demonstrate the potential safety of abortion. David Steel's Private Member's Bill was introduced to Parliament in 1966 and Diggory was involved in the campaign supporting it.
He later became a consultant at The Royal Marsden and Kingston hospitals, specialising in cancer surgery.
His books included Abortion (co-written with Malcolm Potts
and John Peel, 1977) and the second edition of Textbook of Contraceptive Practice (co-written with Potts, 1983; long the key textbook in the field).
In his final years, he had vascular dementia
and he eventually died of heart failure.
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
. He was the central medical figure in the Abortion Law Reform Association
Abortion Law Reform Association
The Abortion Law Reform Association is a former advocacy organisation which promoted access to abortion in the United Kingdom. It campaigned effectively after World War II for the elimination of legal obstacles to abortion and the peak of its work was the Abortion Act 1967.In Autumn, 2003, ALRA...
in the 1960s and medical adviser to David Steel
David Steel
David Martin Scott Steel, Baron Steel of Aikwood, KT, KBE, PC is a British Liberal Democrat politician who served as the Leader of the Liberal Party from 1976 until its merger with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the Liberal Democrats...
's Private Member's Bill
Private Member's Bill
A member of parliament’s legislative motion, called a private member's bill or a member's bill in some parliaments, is a proposed law introduced by a member of a legislature. In most countries with a parliamentary system, most bills are proposed by the government, not by individual members of the...
that became the Abortion Act 1967
Abortion Act 1967
The Abortion Act 1967 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom legalising abortions by registered practitioners, and regulating the free provision of such medical practices through the National Health Service ....
.
Biography
Diggory was born in TitleyTitley
Titley is a village and civil parish in Herefordshire, England. It lies on the B4355 between Kington and Presteigne.In the 2001 census the parish had a population of 167....
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
. Diagnosis with polio as a child interrupted Diggory's schooling, but he went on to attend Royal Grammar School Worcester
Royal Grammar School Worcester
The Royal Grammar School Worcester is an independent coeducational school in Worcester, United Kingdom. Founded before 1291, it is one of the oldest British independent schools....
. He studied mathematics at University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
, leading to work with C. P. Snow
C. P. Snow
Charles Percy Snow, Baron Snow of the City of Leicester CBE was an English physicist and novelist who also served in several important positions with the UK government...
on the development of radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
in the Second World War. After the war, he studied medicine at University College Hospital
University College Hospital
University College Hospital is a teaching hospital located in London, United Kingdom. It is part of the University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and is closely associated with University College London ....
, where he met his future wife, Patricia (died 2002), with whom he had two children.
He became a consultant gynaecologist at Queen Charlotte's and Westminster hospitals, where he came to support legalising abortion. At Kingston hospital, where he was appointed a consultant in 1961, he was responsible the care of the 400 women admitted each year suffering from the comnplications arising from illegal abortions. In a study published 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...
, based on 1,000 histories, he was able to demonstrate the potential safety of abortion. David Steel's Private Member's Bill was introduced to Parliament in 1966 and Diggory was involved in the campaign supporting it.
He later became a consultant at The Royal Marsden and Kingston hospitals, specialising in cancer surgery.
His books included Abortion (co-written with Malcolm Potts
Malcolm Potts
David Malcolm Potts is a human reproductive scientist. Since 1993, he has been the first holder of the Fred H. Bixby-endowed chair in Population and Family Planning in the School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley....
and John Peel, 1977) and the second edition of Textbook of Contraceptive Practice (co-written with Potts, 1983; long the key textbook in the field).
In his final years, he had vascular dementia
Dementia
Dementia is a serious loss of cognitive ability in a previously unimpaired person, beyond what might be expected from normal aging...
and he eventually died of heart failure.