Raoul Palmer

Raoul Albert Charles Palmer FRCOG (29 August 1904, Paris – 5 July 1985), known as A.C. Palmer, was a French gynecologist and pioneer in gynecologic laparoscopy.

Palmer was born in Paris. His parents, Fritjof Palmer and Signe, née Garling, were from Gothenburg, Sweden. Palmer was trained as a gynecologist and became the head of the gynecological research at the Faculty of Medicine in Paris in 1934. Use of the Trendelenburg position and mobilizing the uterus by a transvaginal cannula were introduced by Palmer. In 1962 Palmer performed laparoscopic tubal coagulations and other interventions.

Palmer and his wife traveled extensively teaching and influencing many gynecologists throughout the world about the use and potential of laparoscopy. Others came to visit them at their hospital in Paris. Laparoscopic pioneers influenced by Palmer include Melvin Cohen, Hans Frangenheim, Richard Fikentscher, Kurt Semm, and Patrick Steptoe.

Honors and awards

Honorary member, Royal Society of Medicine (1958) Fellow, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (1974) President, Société Française de Gynécologie (1962)