Marks Donald Ripka (12 June 1903 – 4 March 1976) was a Polish-British medical doctor and politician.
Born part of Poland then under the control of the Russian Empire to a Jewish family as Majer Rybka, he moved with his family to the Spitalfields area of London at an early age. In 1931, he was naturalised as a British citizen, by which time he was using the name "Marks Ripka".[1][2]
Ripka studied medicine, qualifying in 1933, and became known for his willingness to prescribe heroin to addicts. Initially, this attracted attention, but did not cause him difficulties,[3] and he became active in the Socialist Medical Association and the Medical Services Guild. He also joined the Labour Party, and at the 1946 London County Council election, he was elected in St Pancras South West, serving a single three-year term.[2]
By 1951, concerns about Ripka's prescription of heroin were taken to the Home Office. While it decided that the prescription of heroin to addicts was a complex area, of unclear legality, one of Ripka's patients had sent their prescribed heroin to a friend in Malta. Ripka pleaded guilty to aiding the unlawful possession of a proscribed substance, and agreed not to accept any more addicts as patients.[3]
Referencesedit
^"The London Gazette" (PDF). www.thegazette.co.uk. 6 January 1931.
^ abThe Jewish Year Book. Greenberg & Company. 1950. p. 416.
^ abStrang, John (2005). Heroin Addiction and the British System. Abingdon: Routledge. p. 25.
May 18, 2024
marks, ripka, marks, donald, ripka, june, 1903, march, 1976, polish, british, medical, doctor, politician, born, part, poland, then, under, control, russian, empire, jewish, family, majer, rybka, moved, with, family, spitalfields, area, london, early, 1931, na. Marks Donald Ripka 12 June 1903 4 March 1976 was a Polish British medical doctor and politician Born part of Poland then under the control of the Russian Empire to a Jewish family as Majer Rybka he moved with his family to the Spitalfields area of London at an early age In 1931 he was naturalised as a British citizen by which time he was using the name Marks Ripka 1 2 Ripka studied medicine qualifying in 1933 and became known for his willingness to prescribe heroin to addicts Initially this attracted attention but did not cause him difficulties 3 and he became active in the Socialist Medical Association and the Medical Services Guild He also joined the Labour Party and at the 1946 London County Council election he was elected in St Pancras South West serving a single three year term 2 By 1951 concerns about Ripka s prescription of heroin were taken to the Home Office While it decided that the prescription of heroin to addicts was a complex area of unclear legality one of Ripka s patients had sent their prescribed heroin to a friend in Malta Ripka pleaded guilty to aiding the unlawful possession of a proscribed substance and agreed not to accept any more addicts as patients 3 References edit The London Gazette PDF www thegazette co uk 6 January 1931 a b The Jewish Year Book Greenberg amp Company 1950 p 416 a b Strang John 2005 Heroin Addiction and the British System Abingdon Routledge p 25 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Marks Ripka amp oldid 1177901414, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
