Nazi Anatomy Lessons (A Dissection of Evil)

Dr Israel was preparing for an operation with a routine unchanged for 20 years: anatomy atlas opened to the relevant illustration and writing down each step of the surgery. He prepared for all variations and the operation was a success. This approach fuelled a rising academic career, innovative surgeries, research, and education of residents in training. His preparation was interrupted by a colleague’ s visit. The colleague remarked that the anatomy atlas he had been studying was created by Nazi doctors. The surgeon’ s world changed. He looked at the illustrations in a new light. Who were these people? Were they victims of Nazi atrocities? How was it possible that he knew nothing of this for twenty years? Was his career based on the incredible suffering of victims and absolute evil? The 30 year journey which followed was an education into the world of evil, with doctors changing from healers to murderers. As genocide is a recurrent theme throughout history, what can be done to prevent this from happening again? The bioethical issues raised from this story are increasingly relevant today and may provide a path towards producing a society that heals suffering rather than creating it.