Frances Ames

Frances Ames

Name	Frances Ames
Birth name
Birth date	20 April 1920
Birth place	Pretoria, South Africa
Death date	11 November 2002
Death place	Cape Town, South Africa
Alma mater
Occupation	Neurologist, Psychiatrist, Human Rights Activist
Years active
Organization
Known for
Notable works
Spouse(s)
Website

Frances Rix Ames (20 April 1920 – 11 November 2002) was a renowned South African neurologist, psychiatrist, and human rights activist. She is best known for her courageous role in challenging the apartheid regime's medical establishment over the death of anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko.

Early Life and Education

Frances Ames was born in Pretoria, South Africa, in 1920. She attended the University of Cape Town, where she earned her medical degree in 1942. Ames later specialized in neurology and psychiatry, fields in which she would make significant contributions throughout her career.

Medical Career

Ames began her medical career during a tumultuous period in South Africa's history. She worked as a neurologist and psychiatrist, eventually becoming a professor at the University of Cape Town. Her work in neurology was pioneering, and she was one of the first women to hold a senior academic position in the medical faculty at the university.

Human Rights Activism

Frances Ames is perhaps best remembered for her role in the investigation into the death of Steve Biko, a prominent anti-apartheid activist who died in police custody in 1977. Biko's death was initially ruled as a result of a hunger strike, but Ames, along with a group of colleagues, challenged this finding. They argued that Biko had died due to severe head injuries sustained during police interrogation.

Ames led a five-year legal battle against the South African Medical and Dental Council, which had failed to hold the doctors who treated Biko accountable for their negligence. Her efforts were instrumental in bringing about a new inquiry that eventually led to the censure of the doctors involved.

Legacy

Frances Ames's dedication to justice and human rights left a lasting impact on the medical community and the broader struggle against apartheid. Her work highlighted the ethical responsibilities of medical professionals and the importance of standing up against injustice.

In recognition of her contributions, Ames received numerous awards, including the Order of the Baobab in Gold, one of South Africa's highest honors.

Also see

• Steve Biko
• Apartheid in South Africa
• University of Cape Town
• Medical ethics