Education
He was educated at Pretoria Boys High School and then he read medicine at Edinburgh University, where he was a gold medalist.
He was educated at Pretoria Boys High School and then he read medicine at Edinburgh University, where he was a gold medalist.
He later became a specialist in aural surgery after studies in London and Vienna. Doctor Friedman practised in Johannesburg and was Honorary Surgeon to the Ear, Nose and Throat Department of Johannesburg Hospital and then Head of Department. He was senior lecturer in Otolaryngology at the Medical School of the University of Witwatersrand and consultant to the United Defence Force.
As an officer in the Medical Corps in the Second World War, he was Chief Aural Surgeon to the Military Hospital in Johannesburg.
A United Party candidate, he became an Member of Parliament for Hillbrow in 1943 when Smuts was returned to power. In Parliament, he was noted for the informed content of his speeches, particularly those on financial and treasury matters, and was admired by members on both sides of the House for his quick repartee and cutting interjections.
Doctor Friedman kept his seat until 1948 when Smuts fell from power and the Nationalist Party under Malan took over Government. In 1955, Doctor Friedman resigned his seat in protest against the United Party"s refusal to pledge to the restoration of Coloured voters on the common roll (High Court of Parliament Bill).
He stood as an Independent but was narrowly defeated by the Uttar Pradesh candidate.
He then became one of the founders of the Progressive Party (South Africa) and was its leader in the Transvaal for 10 years. Helen Suzman was a protégé of his. C Kaplan wrote in his obituary, "He was a man who saw the injustice of reducing the rights of South Africans of all races and was not afraid to say so".
He retired and became President of the South African Institute of Race Relations.
He was befriended by Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, when the Earl was Governor-General of South Africa. He developed the township of Northcliffe, near Johannesburg.