Eduard Pernkopf's <i>atlas of topographical and applied human anatomy</i>: The continuing ethical controversy

Hubbard, Christopher

doi:10.1002/ar.1157

Cited by 23 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…A great deal of protest has been brought against Eduard Pernkopf's Atlas of Topographical and Applied Human Anatomy (Atlas, 2001), which has been proclaimed as one of the best atlases ever published to date, and used the best available prosectors, professional artists, and publishers who could print high quality coloured books (Atlas, 2001). However, Pernkopf, who publicly proclaimed homage to Hitler, used a large number of bodies of executed Jews during the Nazi regime (Hubbard, 2001). In recent times, the public has been very critical and vocal about the use of unclaimed bodies for the exhibition of cadavers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The reliance on unclaimed cadavers for anatomical teaching by medical schools in Africa

Gangata¹,

Ntaba²,

Akol³

et al. 2010

Anatomical Sciences Ed

104

110

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The study of gross Anatomy through the use of cadaveric dissections in medical schools is an essential part of the comprehensive learning of human Anatomy, and unsurprisingly, 90% of the surveyed medical schools in Africa used cadaveric dissections. Donated cadavers now make up 80% of the total cadavers in North American medical schools and all the cadavers used for dissection in the United Kingdom are donated. Because the sources of cadavers used in Africa are not clearly known, a questionnaire to gather information on cadavers used at medical schools was designed from the relevant literature and was sent by electronic mail to 123 Anatomy lecturers in 23 African countries (48 medical schools). Fourteen lecturers from 14 medical schools in ten countries responded to the questionnaires. The results indicate that, in most countries, the cadavers are unclaimed bodies from the hospitals and prisons, and the bodies of dead bandits. In South Africa and Zimbabwe, the donations are mostly from the white community, and medical school in the Islamic country of Libya is importing cadavers from India. The lack of knowledge about body donation programes and firmly held cultural and religious burial traditions may explain the lack of bequests from black communities. The use of unclaimed bodies may disproportionally affect people who were homeless and poor, criminals, people with fewer social links, and social outcasts. The Anatomy lecturers felt that there should be broader national awareness programes for body donations, although the benefits of this could take decades to materialize.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The reliance on unclaimed cadavers for anatomical teaching by medical schools in Africa

Gangata¹,

Ntaba²,

Akol³

et al. 2010

Anatomical Sciences Ed

104

110

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Events similar to the ones described here for Jena are also known for other universities of the Reich during this general time frame. The anatomical institutes at the universities of Tübingen (Schönhagen, 1992), Vienna (Malina, 1998; Spann, 1998; Angstetter, 2000; Hubbard, 2001), Halle (Viebig, 2002), and Marburg (Aumüller and Grundmann, 2002) have investigated and documented this part of their history. Since the distribution of corpses was regulated by nationwide decrees, other universities in Germany (and Austria) may have also been affected.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Origin of corpses received by the anatomical institute at the University of Jena during the Nazi regime

Redies

Viebig²,

Zimmermann³

et al. 2005

The Anatomical Record Part B

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During the Nazi regime (1933-1945), the anatomical institute at the University of Jena received 2,224 corpses, of which approximately 200 originated from executions. The available data clearly suggest that a large portion of these 200 executed persons must be considered victims of Nazi crimes. Approximately an equal number of bodies were delivered from state nursing homes and mental institutions in the state of Thuringia during the same time period. The available data suggest that it is highly likely that many of them were victims of decentralized "euthanasia" programs. The remains of many prisoners of nearby labor camps, mostly from Eastern Europe, are listed in the body register at the institute as well. A group of anatomists and historians has investigated the institute's association with Nazi crimes. Apart from documenting the association, the aim of the investigation is to clarify the whereabouts of the corpses. In particular, it must be ascertained that none of the specimens publicly displayed in the anatomical collection of the Friedrich Schiller University originated in the context of Nazi crimes.

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“…Meanwhile, the publisher Elsevier GmbH, Urban & Fischer Verlag, has stopped the publication of the Pernkopf atlas citing the possible use of NS victims for the creation of the atlas as the reason for this decision (Hubbard, 2001, and personal communication from the editorial director of Elsevier GmbH, Urban & Fischer Verlag, 9 August 2005). In addition, Williams reports that on reexamination of the original paintings in Munich in 2002 he found that the swastikas had been painted out of some originals and other paintings had been repainted (Paterniti, 2003;Williams, 2004).…”

Section: Approaches To a Solution Of The Pernkopf Controversymentioning

confidence: 99%

How the Pernkopf controversy facilitated a historical and ethical analysis of the anatomical sciences in Austria and Germany: A recommendation for the continued use of the Pernkopf atlas

Hildebrandt

2006

Clin. Anat.

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Eduard Pernkopf's Topographical Anatomy of Man has been a widely used standard work of anatomy for over sixty years. International inquiries about the National Socialist (NS) political background of Eduard Pernkopf and the use of bodies of NS victims for the atlas were first directed at the University of Vienna in 1996. A public discussion about the further use of the book followed and led to the creation of the Senatorial Project of the University of Vienna in 1997. This historical research project confirmed the strong NS affiliation of Pernkopf and revealed the delivery of at least 1,377 bodies of executed persons to the Anatomical Institute of Vienna during the NS time. The possible use of these bodies as models cannot be excluded for up to half of the approximately 800 plates in the atlas. In addition tissue specimens from NS victims were found and removed from the collections of the Viennese Medical School and received a burial in a grave of honor. The Pernkopf controversy facilitated the historical and ethical analysis of the anatomical sciences in Austria and Germany during the NS regime. The continued use of the Pernkopf atlas is not only justifiable but desirable as a tool in the teaching of anatomy, history, and ethics.

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Eduard Pernkopf's atlas of topographical and applied human anatomy: The continuing ethical controversy

Cited by 23 publications

References 7 publications

The reliance on unclaimed cadavers for anatomical teaching by medical schools in Africa

The reliance on unclaimed cadavers for anatomical teaching by medical schools in Africa

Origin of corpses received by the anatomical institute at the University of Jena during the Nazi regime

How the Pernkopf controversy facilitated a historical and ethical analysis of the anatomical sciences in Austria and Germany: A recommendation for the continued use of the Pernkopf atlas

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