A lot of us benefit medically today from the misfortune of others, and I think that shouldn't be forgotten. It serves as a cautionary tale, and reminds us to not take life for granted. If the name Heimlich had already been effectively disassociated with the Heimlich-Maneuver, then we wouldn't have had this bit of good radio that gave us new perspective on life and living in the modern world. Weather or not our opinions of Heimlich change for better or worse from hearing this, the future should still go on having an opinion of him and his practices.

I thought the episode was interesting and well-made. After reading Peter Heimlich's hysterical comments, I will now make a concerted effort to call the procedure the abdominal thrust from this point forward.

5/1/13, Ben Kaufman at Cincinnati CityBeat (alt-weekly) reports Radiolab's "Heimlich censorship deal": http://bit.ly/18qyjBZ

I think it is sad when the narrator said he wouldn't teach his children to call it the Heimlich maneuver. Dr. Heimlich may have gotten a lot of things wrong but we should still give him credit for the one he got right and saved so many lives.

4/22/13, "Radiolab disappears me from story about my father per agreement they made with my brother to censor me" by Peter M. Heimlich, The Sidebar (my blog): http://bit.ly/15zqigR

They made a skit about Heimlich's origin story on Robot Chicken:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlB_BPdZFOI

Wonderful episode except for the end, not calling it the Heimlich maneuver is a great disservice to this amazing man.

Banger Maine? Come on guys, get your regional pronunciations down.

Your show on Henry Heimlich reminds me of a routine by the comedian Edie Izzard on his San Francisco show "Dress to Kill" it june 2009, watch it on "You Tube". Then re-listen to the Radiolab show! Love Radio Lab, Marilyn

Oh my god. When I got to the part where Pat Walters is talking to his school nurse, Mrs. Ennis, and she reads her letter, my emotions instantly welled up and I started crying almost instantly. Thank you, Radiolab, for uniting us all through incredible, human stories like this.

After hearing this show, I will make a point to continue calling it the Heimlich maneuver. Thank you, Dr. Heimlich.

I listened to this podcast yesterday and today I selected a random folder from my music library and one of the songs is called "Heimlich Maneuver" by the band Lecture on Nothing. Crazy coincidence!

Not strictly Heimlich anecdote, but at a public restaurant, I was sitting opposite her when she stopped breathing. I rose up, walked to put myself behind her, slapped her back sharply, and she coughed up food, and resumed breathing.

I choked on food. It was awful.

But I remembered what to do.

Calmly, I performed the Heimlich Maneuver on myself, by forcing the bottom of my ribcage against the back of a chair.

The technique worked perfectly. That knowledge probably saved my life.

In this radio show I hear now the authorities recommend back blows – thump the victim on the back five times.

That's clearly nonsense. How do I thump myself on the back?

The Mayo Clinic pays a half-hearted homage to back blows here: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/first-aid-choking/FA00025

Back blows? WTF is wrong with the Red Cross?

Thank you Dr Heimlich.

This is a great episode. I've listened to it 3 times already.

As an economics student I am always thinking about the unintended consequences of peoples actions, in other words how the outcomes (consequences) of people actions often completely contradict their intentions. This episode provides the most stark, yet touching example of this that I have come across in years.

Thank you

I love this episode. Lately I've had issues negotiating the apparent intelligence of the elderly men in my family, and the deeply mistaken reasoning they try to impose, out of a sense of perceived authority and experience. I'm not sure why it is, but after a few (or maybe just one) successes, a man's ego inflates and they try to solve problems they are not qualified to. James Randi described jokingly that PhD candidates, after they receive their degree, believe that they can do and say no wrong. I don't think these people are ill intentioned at all, they are just deeply misguided about what they can accomplish after one or two successes. Just like L. Pauling (after receiving his Nobel Prize) believed that downing huge amounts of vitamin C can cure the common cold. Yes, it's out of the box thinking, but not based on any real usable facts. Age and experience are no substitute for knowledge.

Does not calling the Heimlich maneuver "Heimlich" bother me? Not really. I don't think Pat was trying to get other people to agree with his opinion either. If the maneuver itself works and is used, what does it matter what it's called? Shouldn't Heimlich focus on the fact that it is still used and that it works (to the extent that it does), rather than the fact that people find it unnecessary to venerate him and call his name all the time?

As an EMT and avid RadioLab listener I loved the show. I was discouraged with your comment at the end stating that you would not include his name in identifying the maneuver. I was not deterred by Heimlich's later claims concerning malaria treatment curing AIDS, cancer etc. There is much that we don't know about the human body and health, to discount completely Dr. Heimlich's research seems ill advised. I for one have more respect for Dr. Heimlich now, because he is willing to look where others do not. Given the passing of time we shall see if his line of thought doesn't hit the mark.

It will always be the Heimlich Maneuver as far as I am concerned and I cant wait to save a life using it.

Maybe they took it down after I followed one of your links and complained about it.

Once again your program has left me with a lot to think about. I found it to be informative, interesting, and sad. Dr. Heimlich seems to suffer from a lack of early failures which resulted in later questionable actions and claims. In the end, I disagreed with the reporter's assessment of Dr. Heimlich's career. Despite everything else he has done before or after developing the Heimlich maneuver, there is no doubt that this procedure is his creation and that it should be attributed to him.

3/19/13, "Cincinnati Biz Courier publishes, then disappears article with unflattering information about my father that was reported by NPR's Radiolab and The Atlantic -- and the paper's editor (who teaches journalism) ain't talking" by Peter M. Heimlich, The Sidebar (my blog): http://bit.ly/16GA5R8

How many ribs are broken when performing CPR? But we still do this procedure.
What is the rate of success, or risk, of current cancer treatments?
Side effects of antidepressants? And we can go on and on.
To try to discredit Dr. Heimlich research and legacy because he is not “main stream” is not only cruel and in bad taste but highly irresponsible and narrow-minded. In today’s society of opinions over facts, of “good intentions” over good deeds, of deserving everything but working for nothing, I understand the lack of character shown by Mr. Walters as he dismisses the work of the man that provided a tool to save his life. I can understand it, but I can not condone it. I shriek of thinking how would Vesalius fare in Mr. Walters’ mind. Thankfully we have scientist like Dr. Heimlich and Vesalius that care not about being main stream, but about finding answers and solutions to humanity’s problems.

The end of this show seemed to pit Heimlich against the Red Cross. The list of the Red Cross's wrongs is too long for this comment (racism, tainted blood supply, Liddy Dole, donation scandals, and cowardice (personal)). This seems to go against all that RadioLab has delivered to us in the past. Think Hookworms. If the Red Cross had been around during the time of Ignaz Semmelweis, they would have been leading the charge against doctors washing their hands. Next time find a reputable organization to argue a point.

Okay, RadioLab, you have some explaining to do. Your reporter's comment at the end of the story clearly upset many listeners including this one. Did you do this as a ploy to see how many listeners you have? I'm stunned by what up until now has been many hours of excellent programming.

I do find your father's research in using malariotherapy to be controversial but I don't think I'd go so far as to say its notorious. I'm not aware of any laws that he broke, correct me if I'm wrong. Your friend Dr. Baratz seemed to make some bogus claims on this front.

There are many treatments that go on now that people object to such as the use of embryonic stem cells for things like curing cancer (and has to be conducted overseas) or in one of radiolabs own episodes the use of hook worms to cure allergies.

I think you'd have us believe he was some sort of Josef Mengele.

When I search the internet I see responses to what "Holly Martins" was doing such as the following:

"Personally, I do not believe it is necessary to discredit Heimlich; Heimlich’s protocol for submersion victims flies in the face of current medical science and has done so for more than 20 years. It has had its "day in court" so to speak within the medical community and has never been accepted. If Holly Martin wants to call Heimlich a fraud because of his (Heimlich's actions), that is only his opinion/conclusion, and he should be free to express it."

and this

"Holly,
We have never supported this procedure, and it has been put to rest in this forum, and you were one of the postees. However, i am sure the ERC looks at all evidence carefully."

Yet on your website you make statements like

"Our research revealed my father to be a spectacular con man and serial liar, arguably one of history's most successful - and destructive - medical humbugs."

I think radiolab needs to do a better job of vetting its sources and giving the other side of the story.

Mr. Gonzales,

You're correct. As has been widely-reported, in the early years of researching my father's career, I used pseudonyms both to obtain information and to bring the information to public attention.

For example, about ten years ago I submitted an anonymous complaint to UCLA's Office for the Protection of Research Subjects. That triggered an investigation of UCLA faculty who participated in my father's notorious "malariotherapy" experiments on Chinese AIDS patients. Media reports about that are linked here: http://bit.ly/peNjoy

PMH

On the website where you admit to being Holly Martins (which is registered to you ) you justify it with:

"You tell me how I'm supposed to call a doctor and say, 'Hi, I'm the son of Henry Heimlich, the scourge of your life. Would you tell me the truth about him?'"

Yet you used the name Holly Martins all over the internet to try and discredit your father. You weren't trying to interview anyone you were just putting out questionable information about your father.

Yet despite all that "Holly Martins" makes posts like this:

"Finally, I thought it would interest board members that Dr. Edward A. Patrick appears to be the actual inventor of what came to be known as the Heimlich maneuver."

https://www.google.com/search?as_q=holly+martins&as_sitesearch=www.erc.edu
It should be the first link that comes up.

Edward Patrick is such a big liar yet you believe him when he says he invented the Heimlich Maneuver?

Test

Because of the size limitations on messages I'll just have to make a couple small posts.

You went around pretending to be Holly Martins attacking your father which you admit to. http://medfraud.info/Radar_Outmaneuvered_11-05.html

You also made a website named heimlichinstitute.com back in 2003 which you used to attack your father. On that website you talk about how Edward Patrick lied over and over again. It should of been named EdwardPatrickLies.com.

He sued and lost over this story because the judge said it was substantially true. http://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/playing-doctor/Content?oid=1488395

Test

Hello Mr. Gonzales,

I'm not sure what "bogus claims" you're referring to, but if you wish to discuss, please feel free to get in touch or we can continue here. Here's my contact information: http://bit.ly/ZLHQQC

You may also find some useful information in these media reports: http://bit.ly/peNjoy

Coincidentally, today the Cincinnati Business Courier (the newspaper that published the January 24, 2005 article you posted) ran this item about the Radiolab report about my father, "Dr. Henry Heimlich's Reputation Hangs in the Balance" by James Ritchie: http://bit.ly/10T6dk4

Cordially,

Peter M. Heimlich

Peter it would seem that you have made your fair share of bogus claims. I found this article which gives your fathers side of the story on some of the things you have been claiming.

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2005/01/24/story2.html?page=all

Worst episode. Maybe the only bad episode. The editorializing was jerky, and left me feeling like the "reporter", had either something personal against the subject, or knew something damning that wasn't presented in the story. Either way I was disappointed this episode went to air as it was. I feel like I could have gotten a better take on Heimlich from a goofy college kids web blog.

I never miss an episode of Radiolab. And have rarely, with the occasional exception of some pseudoscience, been critical of the show. But this episode was really lacking in empathy for its subject. The reporting was a little slanted and mean spirited. Bad journalism and sloppy reporting. Boo!

Via my website:

"Medical experts speak out against my father's history of misconduct": http://bit.ly/10FJ9Sf

"Some of the victims - casualties of the Heimlich maneuver for drowning rescue": http://bit.ly/WaduJO

Heimlich's son Henry is a very small man.

His father is flawed, but he can be credited with saving countless lives.

Loved the episode. Hated the conclusion your ungrateful, pretentious reporter came to at the end of the show.

Jad, Robert, and excellent RadioLab team:

You guys are awesome. I really liked the Heimlich short. It had all the hallmarks of a great RadioLab show: the interrogation of a mundane topic that makes it fascinating, science and emotion, personalities illuminated as ideas are revealed.

I wholly disagree, however, with its conclusion. The notion that Dr. Heimlich's heroic legacy of success is negated by his legacy of failures totally misunderstands both heroism and success. The really touching, moving heroes are the imperfect ones - the people who, in spite of their shortcomings, have done remarkable things. Also, innovators (and Heimlich is clearly an innovator) fail - that is why they succeed, because they're willing to fail - to try new things, to buck conventional wisdom. I'll take Dr. Heimlich's weekly google alert of saved lives as an indication of the very clear benevolent good he's done the world over his unsuccessful attempts to do more good any day.

Thanks again for all the great work.

David O'Donnell

They should still call it the Heimlich maneuver. The man has made some mistakes but the good he has done far outweighs it. You should just give all the information and let your listeners decide for themselves. This reminds me of what you did to the Hmong lady and her grand father.

Correction: the Reuters article about UCLA's "malariotherapy" investigation referenced in my previous comment was published on April (not March) 14, 2003.

1) Via "Scientists Linked to Heimlich Investigated: Experiment Infects AIDS Patients in China With Malaria" by Robert Anglen, Cincinnati Enquirer, February 16, 2003: http://bit.ly/Xkkky0

(Dr. Heimlich's) experiments - which seek to destroy HIV, the AIDS-causing virus, by inducing high malarial fevers - have been criticized by the Centers for Disease Control and the Food and Drug Administration and condemned by other health professionals and human rights advocates as a medical "atrocity."

2) Via "Heimlich Maneuvers Into AIDS Therapy" by Deena Beasley, Reuters, March 14, 2003: http://bit.ly/Y5B1eg

"If (Dr.) Heimlich is really doing this, he should be put in jail," said Mark Harrington, executive director of Treatment Action Group, an AIDS research advocacy organization.

While I really enjoyed this story, the moralizing and conclusions at the end really left a sour taste in my mouth.

First of all, what did Heimlich every do that was so bad that it should override his past accomplishments? Inventing a procedure that was put into practice and has saved thousands and thousands of lives vs. coming up with a few well-intentioned but misguided theories that, as far as I know from listening to the the story, have not been directly linked to any loss of life whatsoever.

It's not as though this man became a bilious, hate-spewing maniac. He simply backed some theories that are not within the medical mainstream, even though he thinks they would work. Why is this such a moral transgression that it should undermine his truly astounding and important achievements?

Even if he DID become the most vile hate-monger this world has ever seen, does that mean we should rewrite history, and pretend as though he didn't invent "abdominal thrusting?" No!! In fact, we've had Radiolab episodes that have been way more ambivalent about much more seriously messed up people in the past -- what about Fritz Haber?

Heimlich didn't deserve this kind of treatment. I am honestly left with a bad taste in my mouth from the conclusion of this episode. I'm sure this was not the intentions of Pat Walters and the rest of the Radiolab staff, but the ending left me feeling as though this was a cheap attempt to sensationalize an otherwise well-produced and fascinating episode.

I was blown away by this story- Radiolab at its best. A combination of science, history, and personal reflection rolled together in a way no other show does better. I must say that I have been disappointed by two recent stories- the story about Hmong refugees (because I felt the treatment of the refugee disrespectful) and the story about paying drug addicts not to have kids (I found the subject interesting but the bizarre conclusion that sounded like an argument against all birth control left me dumbfounded.) This story, on the other hand, made me feel like Radiolab is back. I don't feel like Pat Walters’ conclusion was disrespectful to Dr. Heimlech. I felt that throughout the story he showed nothing but gratitude towards this maneuver that saved his life and the doctor who created it, and he says that he will forever connect the two. I interpreted his conclusion as more a reflection about the evolution of medical practices, and a reflection on how ideas grow and evolve beyond the individuals who first have them. As a young person who firmly knows this maneuver as "The Hiemlech," I would argue that "Abdominal Thrusts" is actually a better name for it, only because it is self-descriptive, which seems to be a very sensible way to name any emergency medical procedure.

I've read the transcript of the Radio National discussion posted by Peter Heimlich and find that since Australia does not use his father's maneuver it would be interesting to see how its ratio of deaths by suffocation compares to that of countries that use it. I think the reason the maneuver became so popular is not due just to his father's charisma but to the fact that it worked and gave people a clear tool to help suffocating victims. It is inevitable that some damage can be inflicted is the maneuver is done improperly but when the alternative is death and nothing is absolutely fail proof one must try the most effective way to help. If after this debate it is found that the chest thrust is the most effective and it can easily be performed by anyone I am sure it will take over the Heimlich with time.

Via "Heimlich maneuver's creator fights Red Cross" by Cliff Radel, Cincinnati Enquirer (re-published in USA Today), January 21, 2013: http://usat.ly/10eXYtc

'This waffling has vexed (Dr. Heimlich), prompting him to ask the Red Cross to remove his name from any of its literature and training procedures on choking.

"When they started calling for back slaps first and then the Heimlich maneuver," he recalled, "I wouldn't let them use the Heimlich name."'

Did not agree with the conclusion.

Do we judge Steve Jobs in the end solely on the ideas that were crazy and wrong?
Or the ones that were crazy and correct?

Pat Walters was totally wrong to dismiss the man that saved his life.

Disappointed with the conclusions on this last podcast. Your show that once presented hookworm parasites as possible cure for allergies, now endorses the possibility that the Heimlich maneuver will not be called after its inventor in the future because -at 93 years old of age- he has offered improbable theories.
A true critical thinker would present the facts behind Heimlich's latest ideas before condemning him. Heimlich has a point suggesting that creative thinking is sometime necessary to find alternatives, even if his thinking in this case is wrong. But we won't know why it is wrong because we have to hear about Pat Walter's emotions at the sappy reading of his nurse's letter. Give me a break! And how dare he suggest that the world should use the anonymous definition of the move instead of his inventor's name!

I was fascinated by Radio Lab's portrayal of Dr Heimlich, but I think they've allowed personalities to get in the way of truth. For an account of the science behind the Heimlich manoeuvre see http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/healthreport/the-heimlich-manoeuvre/3094802

Why must people always involve innocent animals? Really, can't people realize that animals aren't here for us to be cruel and inhumane to them for our benefit?

Geniuses are often a bit mad.
Sprinkle a dash of success and stir in some fame and you have a recipe for an ego maniacal disaster. I doubt his intent was malevolent even if his absurd defiance in face of the facts is appaling.

How many of us have been there?
Don't get ahead of yourself about getting ahead of yourself.
Better men have made worse mistakes.
Could the Curies have really imagined the worst as well as the best?

I'm going to make sure my grandson learns the Heimlich Maneuver and calls it that as well as understands why.

I was fascinated with this story and was struck by how much it reminded me of the Peter Duesberg saga. An amazing scientist somehow lost his marbles and went from saving lives to costing them. I only wish PD had a son who was so out-spoken against his father. Peter Heimlich you are the definition of a hero.

BTW, Peter Duesberg would likely make a fascinating character for a future radio lab story (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Duesberg)

I found this story interesting, well researched and moving. When Pat had his school nurse read her Thank You letter, it was a touching moment of humanity. These moments are what separates out this programing from the rest of the "noise" that we are subject to on a commercial basis. I have to be honest, as a former journalist Pat's comments at the end left a bad taste in my mouth. Medical misadventures aside, I feel that Dr. Heimlich should be recognized for this contribution.. even as it becomes outdated. Many medical techniques become quickly outdated as our technology improves and our understanding of the human body leads us to better practices. Pat's opinion at the end perhaps was an attempt to keep it "real" but I felt it was rude and disrespectful. The general public is leery enough of journalists because they twist and spin quotes and data around to suit their mood or to gain readership. Bad call Radio Lab Senior Editing Staff, and Poor professional form Pat.

I just finished listening to the podcast and couldn't help being more than a little irritated at the end. When Pat Walters said he wasn't sure he would tell his "future" children to call it the Heimlich Maneuver. What a punch to the face he gave Dr. Heimlich, and to think he went to his home and Interviewed him. How disingenuous.

I can't believe that the comment Pat Walters made got past everyone when he said that hearing his teacher's recollection of saving his life leaves him feeling "A little choked up" yuk-yuk. Yeah I'm a dork. I strongly agree that the maneuver that saves people from choking should forever be named after him despite any other failures he may have had. This procedure was not even "discovered" but invented by Heimlich after intentionally setting his mind to solving it. Even if it gets renamed, I'm fairly certain that Heimlich himself will never see it happen in his own lifetime.

Such a mind blowing and touching episode.

Great show as usual. I think that if we are going to call the man out for his misdeeds, we also have to credit him for the amazing number of lives he has saved. So I think trying to detach his name from the technique he developed is simply wrong on so many levels. That's just the way I feel about it.

Thanks for the show!

Pat Walters should eat yogurt from now on. It would sure be unfortunate [while he's choking] to ask his kid to perform the 'What-cha-call-it...thingamajiggy...abdominal F-stick move' on him. The rest of us shall request the 'Heimlich Maneuver'! Jad & Robert....Keep up the excellent work, and thank you!

Stop your nonsense and live in the moment.

It is possible that Dr. Heimlich has a form of dementia due to his age.

Hey Mat: Yep, I grew up in Reading. Went to Whitfield and Wilson!

I loved your podcast, and I always have an immediate adjective after I hear it, today was the first time I thought a negative adjective: What an a## hole, sorry, this is how I felt

Did Pat Walters grow up in Reading, PA? My family lives in Wilson school district and my wife grew up in Whitfield and went to Wilson. Just curious.

Fantastic short with Dr Heimlich today. However I am appalled at the gentleman who's life was saved. How can one not be thankful to the creator of the maneuver that saved his life? From the moment that he was saved from choking on that apple and every moment after, he has Dr. Heimlich to thank. No matter what you think of his experiments later in life, he deserves to have his name attached to that maneuver forever.

Despite his obviously misguided later medical adventures, I still feel the famous manoeuvre should be credited to its inventor, a clearly inspirational and kindly man.

Ben Harrison, UK

Love this podcast :)
It reminded me of a book by Chuck Palahniuk (who also wrote fight club) called 'Choke'.
In this book the protagonist makes money by pretending to choke in crowded restaurants. Of course, in every group of people there is a hero who gives him the Heimlich manoeuvre. For many people this is one of the greatest/proudest moments in their lives. Those people always like to stay in touch to see how their savee is doing, because after saving his live, they kinda unconsciously feel responseble for him and they help him by sending money for birthday's and christmas.

I very much enjoyed your podcast about the Heimlich maneuver, but was gobsmacked that you didn't include some audio from this classic bit of standup:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itordNWNRM8

Enjoyed your story today. You left the end with a question as to whether appropriate to use the term Heimlich Maneuver with children. Serendipitously, my local news had a story today about a student who saves the live of her classmate choking on food in the school lunchroom using the Heimlich Maneuver. http://fox2now.com/2013/03/05/8-year-old-saves-classmates-life/ So may it's okay to allow the legend to live on(?)