Umberto Veronesi
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| Umberto Veronesi | |
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| In office 25 April 2000 – 11 June 2001 |
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| Prime Minister | Giuliano Amato |
| Preceded by | Rosy Bindi |
| Succeeded by | Girolamo Sirchia |
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| Born | November 29, 1925  Milan, Italy |
| Nationality |  Italian |
| Political party | Independent |
| Profession | Oncologist |
Umberto Veronesi (born November 29, 1925) is an Italian surgeon and oncologist, internationally known for his contributions on prevention and treatment of breast cancer throughout a career spanning over fifty years.
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[edit] Scientific career
Veronesi was born in Milan. He obtained his degree in medicine from the University of Milan in 1950, and soon decided to dedicate his professional activity to the study and treatment of cancers; after brief periods in England and France, he joined the Italian Cancer Institute in Milan as a volunteer.
Veronesi is known as the founder of breast-conserving surgery in breast cancer treatment with the invention of the technique of quadrantectomy which challenged the idea, then dominating among surgeons, that cancers could be treated only with aggressive surgery; since then, he has supported and promoted scientific research aimed to improve conservative surgical techniques.
Following this path, he improved sentinel lymph node biopsy and made possible to avoid axillary dissection in breast cancer with clinically negative lymph nodes.
He also contributed to breast cancer prevention, conducting studies on tamoxifen and retinoids and verifying their capabilities to prevent the formation of carcinoma.
He has always been an activist in many anti-tobacco campaigns.
In 1994 he founded the European Institute of Oncology, which he still directs.
[edit] Political career
- 1993 member of the national Commission against cancer.
- 1998 member of the national Commission for the evaluation of "Di Bella therapy" against cancer.
- 2000-2001 Minister of Health under the Amato II Cabinet.
- 2008 Main candidate in Milan of the Democrate Party (Veltroni) to the Italian Senate.
[edit] Ethical views
Over the years, Veronesi has public expressed his views on several ethical issues, in interviews, televised debates and in his books.
Veronesi identifies himself as an atheist, not believing in any deity and in any form of afterlife; he claims that human beings should not consider death a terrifying moment but rather accept it as a biological necessity.[1]
He supports active euthanasia, affirming the right of any individual to freely dispose of his life when it becomes unbearable due to suffering, pain or loss of dignity. He advocates the necessity to regulate euthanasia at a national level, citing Dutch legislation as a good starting point;[2] he is currently promoting a campaign for the introduction of living will as a legally binding agreement between the doctor and the incapacitated patient.[3]
Veronesi supports genetically modified organisms as a mean to produce food with higher nutritional capabilities and deprived of potentially carcinogenic substance; he critiziced the current dominating opposition to GMOs as due to scarce knowledge of science.[4]
Veronesi is an ethical vegetarian.[5]
[edit] See also
European Institute of Oncology
[edit] Sources
- Official Biography. European Institute of Oncology. Retrieved on 2007-02-05.
[edit] References
- ^ "Io voglio morire così", OK! La salute prima di tutto, February 2006. Retrieved on 2007-02-05.
- ^ "Veronesi difende l'eutanasia "Morire è un diritto fondamentale"", repubblica.it, 2005-11-18. Retrieved on 2007-02-05. (Italian)
- ^ Pappagallo, Mario. "Veronesi: fate testamento biologico", Corriere della Sera, 2006-03-01. Retrieved on 2007-02-05.
- ^ "Intervista all'ex Ministro della Salute Veronesi", La Stampa, 2004-10-28. Retrieved on 2007-02-05. (Italian)
- ^ "Intervista a Umberto Veronesi", Oggi, 2002-10-23. Retrieved on 2007-02-05. (Italian)
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by Rosy Bindi |
Italian Minister of Health 2000 – 2001 |
Succeeded by Girolamo Sirchia |
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