Closed venereology wards in the GDR

Schochow, Maximilian; Steger, Florian

doi:10.1111/jdv.13734

Cited by 6 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…The affected women had no alternative to evade healthcare provided by the state and lacked any opportunity to make a self-determined decision. Compulsory admissions of individuals suspected of being ill were numerously described in the current medical-historical studies on GDR medicine [8][9][10]. In this respect, the compulsory admissions of non-A, non-B hepatitis patients are further proof of the paternalistic character of the patient-physician relationship in the GDR.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Political actors imposed on medicine an important position in disciplining the society in the spirit of socialistic ideology. Healthcare facilities often played a correctional role for non-conforming individuals [9,10]. In addition, the affected women were used for scientific research projects.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The interviews with contemporary witnesses were anonymized, transcribed, and evaluated using the established method of oral history. Steger and Schochow have shown in their work on the closed venereology wards in the GDR [1,9,10] that such interviews with contemporary witnesses can provide direct access to individual experiences. Subsequently, an analysis of the sources on the one hand and the narrative interviews on the other was carried out in order to reconstruct the medical care and the research on the affected women.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Medical care or clinical research on humans? Contaminated anti-D immunoglobulin in the GDR and its consequences

Schochow

Steger

2020

Z Gastroenterol

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Background In 1978 and 1979, contaminated anti-D immunoglobulin was used in the German Democratic Republic (GDR). As a result, several thousand women were, in the end, infected with hepatitis C. These women received medical attention, part of which was research on hepatitis C. Up to now, results of the research and data are being published in international journals. It remains unclear whether the affected women were asked to be subjects of the clinical research. Methods The authors analyzed historical sources and conducted interviews with contemporary witnesses. Results In the GDR, these women were compulsorily treated by physicians without sufficient information about the disease, diagnostics, and therapy. If the women refused medical care, they were coerced into it by the physicians. Medical care and research were inseparable. Without the knowledge of the women and without their consent, research was carried out on the blood samples and liver biopsies acquired from them.After the German reunification, the same physicians continued to conduct research on the same group of patients. Beginning in 1990, interferon therapy was offered to the women. Parallel to the medication with interferon, studies on the effects of the therapy were carried out. In this case as well, the women were not informed about the use of collected data, nor did they agree to it. Conclusions Physicians should clearly define the border between medical care and scientific interest. Exclusively, data obtained from studies performed correctly under ethical point of view should be accepted for publication.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Medical care or clinical research on humans? Contaminated anti-D immunoglobulin in the GDR and its consequences

Schochow

Steger

2020

Z Gastroenterol

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“…In the Western Occupation Zones (WOZ), established were hospitals for patients with venereal diseases and closed venereology wards. [1][2][3][4][5] These facilities were a part of a comprehensive strategy to combat venereal diseases, the number of which rose sharply after the war in all four occupation zones in Germany. In recent years, a number of research papers on the topic of closed venereology facilities in the SOZ and in the German Democratic Republic (GDR) have been published.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In recent years, a number of research papers on the topic of closed venereology facilities in the SOZ and in the German Democratic Republic (GDR) have been published. [2][3][4][5] As part of the recent research, the functions, organization, everyday life and medical care in such facilities in the SOZ and in the GDR have been described in detail. However, there are hardly any insights into the closed venereology facilities in the WOZ and in the early Federal Republic of Germany (FRG).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Closed venereology wards in postwar Hamburg

Schochow

Bjoernsgard²,

Orzechowski

et al. 2020

Acad Dermatol Venereol

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Background A number of research results on closed venereology facilities in the Soviet Occupation Zone (SOZ) and the German Democratic Republic (GDR) have been presented in recent years. However, little is known about similar facilities in the Western Occupation Zones (WOZ) and in the early Federal Republic of Germany (FRG). Method We have researched the records of the State Archive in Hamburg. Subsequently, the analysed sources were evaluated using the historically critical method. Results Three closed venereology wards existed in Hamburg. Compulsory commitments were conducted according to a three-stage procedure. In the immediate postwar period, the wards had barred windows and the doors were locked. Everyday life in the wards was initially determined by the postwar situationpoor facilities, poor hygiene, overcrowding. In the early 1950s, the number of beds was drastically reduced. The function of the wards consisted of isolation and medical care for the compulsorily committed persons. Medical care was in accordance with professional medical standards. Discussion Closed venereology wards in Hamburg followed the tradition established during the period of the Weimar Republic. This becomes apparent both in terms of the legal framework and in terms of the structure and functions of the wards. Thus, they clearly differ from the closed venereology facilities in the SOZ and in the GDR. These facilities were established in the tradition of Soviet prophylactics institutions. The wards in Hamburg served as isolation and treatment centres, the facilities in the SOZ and in the GDR also had a disciplinary function.

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