Neuropathological research at the "Deutsche Forschungsanstalt fuer Psychiatrie" (German Institute for Psychiatric Research) in Munich (Kaiser-Wilhelm-Institute). Scientific utilization of children's organs from the "Kinderfachabteilungen" (Children's Special Departments) at Bavarian State Hospitals.
During National Socialism, the politically motivated interest in psychiatric genetic research lead to the founding of research departments specialized in pathological-anatomical brain research, the two Kaiser Wilhelm-Institutes (KWI) in Berlin and Munich. The latter was indirectly provided with brain material by Bavarian State Hospitals, to three of which "Kinderfachabteilungen" (Special Pediatric Units) were affiliated. As children became victims of the systematically conducted child "euthanasia" in these Special Pediatric Units, this paper will address the question whether and to which extent the organs from victims of child "euthanasia" were used for (neuro-) pathological research at the KWI in Munich. By means of case studies and medical histories (with focus on the situation in Kaufbeuren-Irsee), I will argue that pediatric departments on a regular base delivered slide preparations, that the child "euthanasia" conduced in these departments systematically contributed to neuropathological research and that slide preparations from victims of child "euthanasia" were used in scientific publications after 1945.
Steger
Florian
F
Institute for History of Medicine and Medical Ethics, Friedrich-Alexander-University, Erlangen-Nuernberg, Germany. florian.steger@gesch.med.uni-erlangen.de
D000047:Academies and Institutes / Q000941:ethics / Q000266:history*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D002665:Child Psychiatry / Q000941:ethics / Q000266:history*; D004992:Ethics, Medical / Q000266:history*; D005065:Euthanasia / Q000266:history*; D005858:Germany; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006708:Homicide; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000941:ethics / Q000266:history*; D006783:Hospitals, State / Q000941:ethics / Q000266:history*; D006805:Human Experimentation / Q000941:ethics / Q000266:history*; D006801:Humans; D028683:National Socialism / Q000266:history*; D009488:Neurosciences / Q000941:ethics / Q000266:history*; D011643:Publishing; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000941:ethics / Q000266:history*; D047789:World War II