BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//wp-events-plugin.com//7.2.3.1//EN BEGIN:VEVENT UID:22@brontebirthplace.com DTSTART:20260119T183000Z DTEND:20260119T200000Z DTSTAMP:20251223T102041Z URL:https://brontebirthplace.com/events/monthly-talk-charlotte-bronte-hype remesis-gravidarum-myth-or-reality-a-talk-by-dr-michael-odowd/ SUMMARY:Monthly Talk: Charlotte Brontë & Hyperemesis Gravidarum - Myth or Reality? A talk by Dr. Michael O'Dowd DESCRIPTION:Join us on Monday 19th January\, 2026 via Zoom at 6:30pm.\nHype remesis Gravidarum is medical terminology for the excessive vomiting of ea rly pregnancy. There is a commonly held belief that Charlotte Nicholls (n ée Brontë) suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum\; however\, is this mere ly a myth\, a story\, a false idea or is it true\, a reality\, and an accu rate description of her tragic\, final illness and untimely death?\n\nChar lotte’s official death certificate of 1855 showed that the disease Phthi sis\, also known as consumption or tuberculosis\, was the cause of her dea th. Yet modern Brontë commentators claim that Charlotte died from excessi ve vomiting of pregnancy / hyperemesis gravidarum.\n\nCharlotte wrote in J ane Eyre (1847)\,\n\n“I cannot proceed without some investigation into w hat has been asserted\, and evidence of its truth or falsehood.”\n\nAnd so\, on 19 January\, 2026\, the very same day a hundred and seventy-one ye ars ago in 1855\, when Charlotte wrote to Ellen Nussey explaining that\,\n \n“… indigestion and continual faint sickness have been my portion … ”\n\njoin us via Zoom from the Brontë Birthplace\, Thornton to hear est eemed retired Consultant Obstetrician &\; Gynaecologist Dr Michael O’ Dowd present evidence both for and against the concept that Charlotte was affected by hyperemesis gravidarum.\n\nDr Michael O’Dowd’s biography\n \nDr Michael O’Dowd is a Member of the Brontë Society\, Haworth and als o the Banagher Brontë Group in Ireland. He lives in Bearna on the West Co ast of Ireland on the outskirts of Galway City.\n\nHe has two Bronte-relat ed books: “Charlotte Brontë. An Irish Odyssey”\, a non-fiction book b ased on the honeymoon of Charlotte and Arthur Bell Nicholls\, published in 2021\, and his latest book “Charlotte Brontë: A Medical Casebook” pu blished in 2025.\n\nAlongside his professional qualifications in obstetric s and gynaecology\, Dr. O’Dowd holds a research doctorate in medicine an d a PhD in Medical History. He has additional qualifications in anaestheti cs and paediatrics.\n\nBefore his retirement\, Michael was a Hospital Dire ctor\, and a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist. He also served as National Chair of the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in Ire land. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland\, Fello w of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists London\, Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine London\, and Honorary Fellow of the Indi an Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. He continues as a Medical Histor ian.\n\nDr O’Dowd has lectured on aspects of medical history over the ye ars. His academic publications include: The History of Medications for Wom en (2000)\, and The History of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (1994 / 2001)\, the latter as primary co-author. His book James Marion Sims: The Facts (20 23) explored the surging tide of disinformation that negatively affects me dical history.\n\nIn October 2025 Dr O’Dowd was welcomed as a Member of the International Society for the History of Medicine\n\nFinally\, co-writ ing with his journalist daughter Katy\, under the pen name of Derry O’Do wd\, the father and daughter team have written a five-volume historical me dical fiction called “The Scarlet Ribbon series – Love\, Death and Man Midwifery in the 1700s”.\n\nPrice: £6\n\nBuy tickets here\n\nPlease no te this talk will not have an in person option\, tickets are online only. A recording of the talk will be sent out afterwards and available for one month for those unable to attend on the day. If you are experiencing any t echnical difficulties please send an email to bookings@brontebirthplace.co m. ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://brontebirthplace.com/wp-content/uploads/ 2025/09/M-OD-photo-Large.jpeg CATEGORIES:Guest Speaker END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR