Geoffrey Chamberlain

Geoffrey Victor Price Chamberlain (21 April 1930 – 30 October 2014) was a professor and the academic head at the department of obstetrics and gynaecology at St George's Hospital, London, editor-in-chief of the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG). At one time, he was president of the obstetrics and gynaecology section at the Royal Society of Medicine. He also authored numerous textbooks and journal articles on obstetrics.

Chamberlain took considerable interest in maternal mortality and frequently presented significant importance to the triennal Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Death Reports. In his role with the National Birthday Trust, he directed four national surveys of British obstetrics.

He resigned from his academic, editorial and presidential posts following his acceptance of a 'gift authorship' on a fraudulent research paper written by a colleague. Subsequently, Chamberlain moved to Wales where he published an internationally acclaimed textbook, From Witchcraft to Wisdom, whilst teaching history of medicine as an Apothecaries' lecturer.

Early life Geoffrey Chamberlain was born on 21 April 1930 in Cardiff to Albert Victor Chamberlain, the Lord Mayor of Cardiff's secretary, and Irene May Chamberlain née Price.

His early education was at Llandaff Cathedral School, followed by Cowbridge Grammar School, before he went on to University College London to study medicine.

Medical career Chamberlain's early appointments included placements at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital for Women, and King's College Hospital, London. Subsequently, between 1965 and 1966, he taught at the George Washington Hospital, Washington DC, USA.

In 1954, he entered the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, before retiring in 1974 with the rank of surgeon commander. In 1994, Chamberlain carried out the 1994 Home Birth Study, which demonstrated the safety of planned home births.

Chamberlain took considerable interest in maternal mortality, often recommending GP Irvine Loudon's book, Death in Childbirth, which he described as "first rate", authoring articles on the subject and presenting significant importance to the triennal Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Death Reports. In addition, he directed four national surveys of British obstetrics in his role with the National Birthday Trust. The concept of 'gift authorship' was not uncommon at the time, where, without contributing, a senior name could appear on a paper. It could have happened in many other journals.

Over the years, Chamberlain had witnessed an increase in attendance of the partner during labour and once said that "the presence of the husband in the labour room has been an advance", they "can act as a referee between midwife, doctor and the woman".

Between 2000 and 2008, he remained at Swansea University as an Apothecaries' lecturer in history of medicine.

Personal and family Chamberlain appreciated opera and travel. He carved wooden decoy ducks

He married Jocelyn Olivia Kerley in 1956; they had five children together.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists presents the Professor Geoffrey Chamberlain award every three years to outstanding trainees.

Selected publications