The Boy with an Ice Pick in his Brain

This is the story of 12 year old Howard Dully. The year is 1960. His stepmother is finding him to be ‘unbelievably defiant’ so she takes him to a private California hospital. There he is evaluated by Dr Walter Freeman who diagnoses him with childhood schizophrenia.

For this he prescribes a brutal procedure which would alter Howard’s life forever - a lobotomy. Dr Freeman performed thousands of these operations across the United States, including on Rosemary Kennedy, JFK’s sister. Julia and Adam hear from Jack El-Hai, journalist, medical writer and author of The Lobotomist: A Maverick Medical Genius and His Tragic Quest to Rid the World of Mental Illness.

Presenters: Dr Adam Rutherford and Dr Julia Shaw

Producers: Rufaro Faith Mazarura and Simona Rata

Assistant Producer: Mansi Vithlani

Executive Producer: Jo Meek

Sound Design: Craig Edmondson

Commissioner: Dan Clarke

An Audio Always production for BBC Radio 4.