noun
- Plural of leucotomy; surgical procedures in which nerve fibers in the brain are severed, historically used to treat severe mental illness.
Usage: medical; historical; also spelled lobotomies in modern usage
Examples
- Leucotomies were performed in psychiatric hospitals during the mid-20th century.
- The history of leucotomies represents a controversial chapter in medical ethics.
- Many patients who underwent leucotomies experienced severe side effects.
- Modern psychiatry has largely abandoned leucotomies in favor of medication and therapy.
- The documentary examined the legacy of leucotomies and their impact on patients.