opinion

History lesson on Nazi medicine speaks to modern times

Posted Jan. 10, 2011

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Regarding "Nazi war crimes provide lessons in medical ethics" (link): The atrocities committed by physicians in Nazi Germany even before the Holocaust should give us pause.

It was distressing, though, that in this thought-provoking review of the ethical issues involved in eugenics, no mention was made of our "modern" eugenics problem. Euthanasia, abortion and other physician-approved taking of life drags medicine back to the 1930s and needs to be recognized as such. "Those who do not know history are condemned to repeat it," and we seem to be.

Joseph R. Zanga, MD, Columbus , Ga.

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/01/10/edlt0110.htm.

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