Raymond Bagnis (17 May 1932 – 19 July 2023) was a French medical doctor who practiced in French Polynesia for fifty years, during which he did significant research on Ciguatera fish poisoning. He was also a founder of the Proscience Te Turu ‘Ihi Association, and served as President of the French Polynesia Council of Physicians in 2019.

Life and career

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Raymond Bagnis was born in Nice on 17 May 1932.[1][2] He trained as a medical doctor at the École du service de santé des armées de Bordeaux, graduating in 1959.[1] He was then sent to Mauritania, where he worked in the mobile hygiene service for three years.[1] In 1963, he moved to French Polynesia.[1] After working in the Gambier Islands, he joined the Malardé Institute in 1967, leading their research on Ciguatera and becoming a leading expert on the disease.[3]

Bagnis retired from the institute in 1990.[1] He then lectured at French Pacific University, before returning to medical practice. In 1992 he founded the Proscience Te Turu ‘Ihi Association to promote science to the public,[4] and played a strong role in its annual science festival.[5] He finally retired in 2012.[1] In June 2016 he was made a commander of the Order of Tahiti Nui.[2]

In May 2019, following the resignation of Gilles Soubiran, he was appointed president of French Polynesia's Council of Physicians.[6][7]

Raymond Bagnis died on 19 July 2023, at the age of 91.[8][9]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Les mille et une vies de Raymond Bagnis" (in French). Tahiti Infos. 30 July 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Raymond BAGNIS: Commandeur dans l'ordre de Tahiti Nui" (PDF). Président de la Polynésie française. 29 June 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  3. ^ "Ciguatera on the agenda at Papeete congress". Pacific Islands Monthly. Vol. 56, no. 7. 1 July 1985. p. 62. Retrieved 11 May 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "Proscience a 30 ans, l'association monte un village des sciences" (in French). Tahiti Infos. 30 May 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  5. ^ "La fête de la science en images" (in French). Tahiti Infos. 18 October 2011. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  6. ^ "Tahiti top doctor resigns after sex crime charge". RNZ. 2 May 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  7. ^ "Gilles Soubiran n'est plus président du conseil de l'ordre des médecins" (in French). Tahiti Infos. 1 May 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  8. ^ "Le docteur Raymond Bagnis est décédé" (in French). TNTV News. 19 July 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  9. ^ "Le Dr Raymond Bagnis, spécialiste de la ciguatera, est décédé" (in French). La Depeche. 19 July 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.