Antonio Egaz Moniz

António Egas Moniz was a Portuguese neurologist who is best known for pioneering the lobotomy procedure, a type of psychosurgery. Born in 1874, he believed that certain mental illnesses could be treated by altering the brain. In 1949, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work in this area. While his contributions advanced psychiatric treatment, lobotomies were later criticized for their ethical implications and effects on patients. Moniz’s legacy is complex, reflecting both innovative research in neurology and the controversial consequences of his ideas in mental health treatment.