HRH Prince Mahidol
of Songkla
The Father of Modern Medicine and Public Health of
Thailand
Dedicating His Soul to the
Patients
 |
...Prince
Mahidol performed surgery alongside Dr. Court, took care of patients
at all hours of the day and night, and donated blood for the needy.
He affirmed to everyone the noble principle of the dignity and
worth of everyone as a human being, irrespective of social origin,
birth or status. |
...Prince Mahidol performed surgery alongside Dr. Court,
took care of patients at all hours of the day and night, and donated
blood for the needy.
He affirmed to everyone the noble principle of the dignity
and worth of everyone as a human being, irrespective of social origin,
birth or status.
Prince Mahidol also taught medical courses during his
stay in Thailand, along with official duties and work. Before he returned
to Harvard University to continue with his studies, Prince Mahidol
went to Heidelberg, Germany, to have his kidney treated. In 1925,
his second child, who later became Thailand's King Anandha Mahidol
(Rama VIII), was born here. After having left Germany, the Prince
returned to Harvard University.
His third child, the present King Bhumibol Adulyadej
(Rama IX) was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1927. The Prince
then received his well-earned M.D. (cum laude) in 1928.
With many ideas to help the sick and the less privileged,
the Prince returned to work at Siriraj Medical School. He worked tirelessly,
putting into the school not only his heart and soul, but also an enormous
amount of his personal fortune.
The Prince taught preventive and social medicine to
final-year medical students, but was not allowed to serve an internship
due to his royal status as Chakri Prince of First Rank.
The Prince then decided to leave the hospital to work
as a resident doctor in Chiang Mai, surpassing his royal status and
privileged position to personally see to the sick and the bereaved.
 |
| The
McCormick Hospital in Chiang Mai in 1926. |
The McCormick Hospital, an American missionary hospital,
welcomed the Prince, who had left his family in Bangkok, to stay with
Dr. E.C. Court, Director of McCormick Hospital. Here, Prince Mahidol
performed surgery alongside Dr. Court, took care of patients at all
hours of the day and night, and donated blood for the needy.
He affirmed to everyone the noble principle of the dignity
and worth of everyone as a human being, irrespective of social origin,
birth or status.
 |
| Prince
Mahidol's residence when he worked as a resident doctor at McCormick
Hospital. |
During the last days of his life, Prince Mahidol, still
fulfilling his noble and zealous mission, took leave for Bangkok to
attend a funeral.
He never returned to Chiang Mai. With severe kidney
problems, the Prince kept from his family the fact that he had at
least a year to live. When he was at Harvard, he was also hospitalised
for the disease. The Prince died at the tender age of 37 years and
the kingdom mourned a great man's death.
