The wealth of distinguished doctors: retrospective survey.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To assess changes in the wealth of distinguished doctors in the United Kingdom between 1860 and 2001.

Design

Retrospective survey.

Setting

The UK.

Participants

980 doctors of sufficient distinction to be included in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography and who died between 1860 and 2001.

Main outcome measures

Wealth at death, based on probate records and adjusted relative to average earnings in 2002.

Results

The wealth of distinguished doctors declined substantially between 1860 and 2001, and paralleled a decline in the relative income of doctors in general. The wealth of distinguished doctors also declined relative to other groups of distinguished individuals.

Conclusions

In the 19th century, distinction in doctors was acc

SUBMITTER: McManus IC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1322252 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature