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Radiologist (1938-2009)
Some events are inevitable. One was that Hugh Douglas would follow his father and grandfather into medicine, and like them would give the best part of a lifetime to service in Hamilton and at Waikato Hospital. It continues; his son, also named Hugh, is fourth in the line and one of the hospital's senior anaesthetists.
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The story of Hugh Douglas (1938-2009) is inseparable from Waikato Hospital and his family line. The history extends 110 years, back to 1899 when the first Hugh Douglas was appointed Waikato Hospital's second medical superintendent. There were 16 patients then.
The story is a little confused and needs wit to capture, for the four Douglas doctors were all named Hugh. One of the chapters closed on Wednesday November 4. Hugh Douglas (1938-2009) died at his Hamilton home after a 5-year battle with cancer. He was 71. He was stoic. Wife June says he never complained.
Son Hugh says he maintained his sense of humour throughout. With cancer that's a huge achievement.
Hugh (1938-2009) was born in Pukekohe on January 29, 1938, the son of Dorothy and Hugh Stewart Douglas (known as Stewart) and was one of four siblings. Stewart was one of Pukekohe's and later Hamilton's busy general practitioners. World War II borrowed him to serve as an army doctor, his...