Dr Pies is Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry and Lecturer on Bioethics and Humanities, SUNY Upstate Medical University; Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Tufts University School of Medicine; and Editor in Chief Emeritus of 

 (2007-2010). Dr Pies is the author of several books. A collection of his works can be found on

I learned of the unexpected passing of Dr Thomas Szasz, at age 92. I have known Tom Szasz since I was a resident, more than 30 years ago.

Although we found ourselves on opposite sides of most issues in psychiatry, I have always regarded Tom as a valuable teacher and a genial and warm human being.

His passing surely marks the end of an era in the history of psychiatry, and many will miss Tom's role as Socratic "gadfly."

Thomas Szasz, 1920–2012