Will Physician Who Died Before Nobel Announcement Still Receive the Award?
- Posted on October 3, 2011 at 5:45pm by
Liz Klimas
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Three days before receiving one of the highest honors in medicine — the Nobel Prize — Ralph Steinman of Rockefeller University passed away from pancreatic cancer. He didn’t know about his award, which was announced today, and the committee didn’t know about his death.
Because a Nobel prize winner must be living to be honored with the distinction, the committee is in a bind. The committee’s rules explicitly state “work produced by a person since deceased shall not be considered for an award” but “if a prize winner dies before he has received the prize, then the prize may be presented”.
New Scientist reports a similar case where the recipient passed away two days after the announcement:
The closest precedent was the award of the economics prize in 1996 to William Vickrey, who died two days after the announcement that he had won. Vickrey clearly retained the prize, as he is still listed as the winner for that year.
In Steinman’s case, however he died before rather than after the announcement. The award could therefore be said to be posthumous – and so against the rules.
Steinman was one of three physicians announced this morning as Nobel prize winners in physiology and medicine. According to a statement from the university, Steinman was chosen for his work in “discovering the immune system’s sentinel dendritic cells and demonstrating that science can fruitfully harness the power of these cells and other components of the immune system to curb infections and other communicable diseases.” The statement says his own life benefited from immunotherapy of his own design.
Ralph Steinman
“We are all so touched that our father’s many years of hard work are being recognized with a Nobel Prize,” his daughter, Alexis Steinman said in a statement. “He devoted his life to his work and his family, and he would be truly honored.”
New Scientist reports that the committee will meet in the coming days to decide if Steinman is still eligible to receive the award.
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rdietz7
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 4:02pmAfter they gave Obama a couple Nobel prizes I wouldn’t be surprised if they wasted one on a dead dude.
Report Post »eramthgin
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 2:46pmNope it hasn‘t been awarded yet and dead people don’t win.
Report Post »jrcess
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 11:38amOk, you give one more peace prize to Biden or the Drones will fly, Got It! LOL
Report Post »hud
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 11:02am$1,ooo,ooo.oo.
Report Post »TomFerrari
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 10:29amThey did not give one to mahandra ghandi before he died, and they issued a statement of regret for that, upon his death. Because of their policy of not awarding posthumous nobel prizes, they could not award one to him. So, they didn’t award one at all that year, citing that nobody deserved it. That was the best they could do, considering their own policies.
Report Post »So, I’d say, no, they shouldn’t award it, just to remain consistent.
On the other hand…
WHO CARES? They gave one to obama, which shows they are meaningless aside from a $1MILLION prize.
LastAmerican
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 8:03amGetting to the question. I think he absolutely deserves it. More so than odumdum did. He actually did significant work and should be recognized.
Report Post »grudgywoof
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 7:29amWho cares? Nobel peace prize…..what a joke.
Report Post »Zorro6821
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 8:15amFor all brilliant contributers to the Blaze. This was not a Nobel Peace Prize. This was a Nobel Prize for Science and Medicine. Totally separate things. So as the Beckster would say do your research. Furthermore all the “Who Cares” comments, well let me just say, that all the sick people with cancer care and one day you may care. Ralph Steinman was a great human being and contributor in furthering our fight against cancer. God Bless his Soul.
Report Post »chdorb
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 7:03amWho cares.
Report Post »Zorro6821
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 7:08amGreat Canadian medical researcher. Many lives will be saved by his contribution in science and medicine. Socialized medicine at its finest.
Report Post »ThankBabyJesus
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 1:34amJust have them smelt it into a doggie bowl and present it to dogpac if they haven’t already. I’m sure Ralph will understand, him breaking the rules and all.
Report Post »Californiasodbuster
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 12:51amBarry, please trade places with Ralph
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 11:54pmdid you hear? talk about despicable news! it was reported on Tulsa News tonight and our US Army family over there called us immediately, everyone is very angry =
traitor bradley buttboy manning is nominated for the Nobel peace prize for his treason against America.
Report Post »Chuck Stein
Posted on October 4, 2011 at 1:59amNope. That is news to me. If he is actually awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, then the norwegians will have shown what an absolute joke the prize is. (As if previous awards have not already demonstrated that well enough)
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