Frances Rix Ames was a prominent South African neurologist, psychiatrist, and human rights activist. She is best known for leading the medical ethics inquiry into the death of anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko, who died from medical neglect after being tortured in police custody.
In addition to her activism, Ames also studied the effects of cannabis on the brain and published several articles on the subject. Seeing the therapeutic benefits of cannabis on her patients, she became an early proponent of legalizing it for medicinal use.
Ames faced significant opposition and threats to her personal safety and academic career for her pursuit of justice in the Biko case. After an eight-year legal battle, she won the case in 1985, which led to major medical reforms in South Africa.
Ames continued to work and lecture until shortly before her death in 2002. She was posthumously awarded South Africa’s highest civilian honor, the Order of the Star of South Africa, in recognition of her courageous work on behalf of human rights.
Biography:
- Frances Ames was born in Pretoria on 20 April 1920.
- Raised by her mother and spent time in a Catholic orphanage.
- Moved to Cape Town for schooling and attended Rustenburg School for Girls.
- Graduated from the University of Cape Town medical school in 1942.
- Married David Castle and had four sons.
- Became a single mother after her husband’s death.
- Experienced personal loss and challenges.
- Died at home in Rondebosch on 11 November 2002.
Medical Career:
- Interned at Groote Schuur Hospital.
- Earned an MD degree in 1964 from UCT.
- Became head of the neurology department at Groote Schuur Hospital in 1976.
- Retired in 1985 but continued part-time at Valkenberg and Alexandra Hospital.
- Awarded an honorary doctorate in medicine from UCT in 2001.
- Continued working until six weeks before her death.
Achievements and Impact:
- Led the legal battle against medical neglect in the Steve Biko case.
- Testified at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 1997.
- Awarded the Order of the Star of South Africa by Nelson Mandela in 1999.
- Led to major medical reforms in South Africa.
- Advocated for the decriminalization of marijuana.
- Recognized for her stance against human rights abuses.
Research and Publications:
- Studied cannabis effects in 1958 and published work on cannabis intoxication.
- Advocated for the therapeutic benefits of cannabis.
- Observed positive effects on patients with MS and spinal injuries.
- Continued research on cannabis effects in the 1990s.
- Published ‘Mothering in an Apartheid Society’ in 2002.
Legacy and Recognition:
- Clarified the roles of medical practitioners.
- Frances Ames’ work on the Biko affair justified her actions.
- Testified at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
- Funeral eulogy given by Greg McCarthy from UCT’s psychiatry department.
- Recognized in various medical journals and academic publications.
- Impact on bioethics and medical standards in South Africa discussed.
Frances Ames Data Sources
| Reference | URL |
|---|---|
| Glossary | https:/glossary/frances-ames |
| Wikipedia | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frances_Ames |
| Wikidata | https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q17626455 |
| Knowledge Graph | https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/m/011l81lt |
| DBPedia | http://dbpedia.org/resource/Frances_Ames |
| Product Ontology | http://www.productontology.org/id/Frances_Ames |