Norman Bethune

Norman Bethune's study in Gravenhurst

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Historic House in Fall2006

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Dr Bethune In Battlefield

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Norman Bethune transfusion unit 1936

Norman Bethune China 1938

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Norman Bethune

Henry Norman Bethune (March 4, 1890 – November 12, 1939) was a Canadian physician, medical innovator, and noted humanitarian. He is best known for his work in China during the Second Sino-Japanese War and his contributions to the development of mobile medical units and blood transfusion services.

Early Life and Education

Bethune was born in Gravenhurst, Ontario, Canada. He was the son of Presbyterian minister Malcolm Nicolson Bethune and Elizabeth Ann Goodwin. He attended the University of Toronto where he initially studied arts before switching to medicine. He graduated with a medical degree in 1916.

Medical Career

Bethune served as a surgeon during World War I with the Canadian Army Medical Corps. After the war, he continued his medical training in London and Edinburgh. He became a thoracic surgeon and worked in various hospitals in Canada and the United States.

Innovations in Medicine

Bethune is credited with several medical innovations, including the development of mobile blood transfusion units during the Spanish Civil War. He also designed and implemented the first mobile medical units, which could be deployed quickly to provide surgical care close to the front lines.

Work in China

In 1938, Bethune traveled to China to support the Communist Party of China in their fight against the Japanese invasion. He provided medical care to soldiers and civilians, trained Chinese medical personnel, and established field hospitals. His work in China earned him great respect and admiration, and he is considered a national hero in China.

Death and Legacy

Bethune died of blood poisoning on November 12, 1939, after accidentally cutting his finger during surgery. He was buried in the Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province. His legacy lives on through numerous memorials, schools, and hospitals named in his honor.

Related Pages

• Second Sino-Japanese War
• Spanish Civil War
• Communist Party of China
• University of Toronto
• Canadian Army Medical Corps