Dr. Paulo Niemeyer, one of Brazil's most renowned neurosurgeons, died on March 10 from complications of heart surgery. He was 89.
Neimeyer was a medical pioneer in Latin America who developed techniques to stop involuntary movements in patients with Parkinson's disease. He also designed a surgical technique that stopped seizures in 50 percent of the epilepsy patients he treated. Unfortunately, when practiced by other physicians, the technique could not reproduce the same successful results.
A long-time member of the National Academy of Medicine, Neimeyer treated many well-known Brazilians, including two of the country's former presidents. He also founded the Brazilian League of Epilepsy.
Posted on April 1, 2004 11:19 PM