Richard Asher

Sir Richard Alan John Asher, MD, FRCP (Brighton 3 April 1912 – Marylebone 25 April 1969) was the physician at the Central Middlesex Hospital, who gave the name Munchhausen syndrome to the disease in a 1951 article in The Lancet.

He was born to the Rev Felix Asher and his wife Louise née Stern. He married Margaret Augusta Eliot at Pancras, London on 27 July 1943, and had children:
 * 1) Peter Asher - b. 1944, who was one half of the pop duo Peter & Gordon
 * 2) Jane Asher - b. 1946, the film and TV actress, novelist
 * 3) Clare Asher - b. 1948, the radio actress

He suffered from depression in later life and reportedly died by his own hand at the age of 57

Seven Sins of Medicine
The "Seven Sins of Medicine" is a lecture delivered by Asher and later published in Lancet. The Seven Sins outline medical professional behaviour that is considered inappropriate. These sins are often quoted to students:
 * 1) Obscurity
 * 2) Cruelty
 * 3) Bad Manners
 * 4) Over-specialisation
 * 5) Love of the Rare
 * 6) Common Stupidity
 * 7) Sloth