Renowned Czech sexologist Jaroslav Zvěřina has died

Jaroslav Zvěřina, one of the Czech Republic's most prominent psychiatrists and sexologists and chairman of the Sexological Society of the Czech Medical Association, has died at the age of 81. His death was announced by urologist Libor Zámečník, head of the Institute of Sexology.

Zvěřina was born on 18 December 1942 in Třebíč. On behalf of the Sexological Society's committee, colleagues offered words of farewell: "A great doctor, scholar, university teacher and, above all, a remarkable human being has passed away — someone whose work and humane approach fundamentally shaped modern Czech sexology and psychiatry." Colleagues noted his exceptional grace in broaching even the most delicate topics, saying that for many he was not only a teacher and colleague but also a role model.

From 1977 Zvěřina worked at the Institute of Sexology of the First Faculty of Medicine of Charles University and the General University Hospital in Prague, and after 1989 he became its head. In 1990 he was among the founders of the Czech Society for Family Planning and Sex Education.

After the Velvet Revolution, Zvěřina turned to politics: he was elected to the Civic Democratic Party (ODS), served as a councillor in the Tábor city assembly, and spent five years as a member of the European Parliament.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz