‘Deadly Medicine’ opens at Wang Center

'Deadly Medicine' opens at Wang Center

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April 23, 2009 | 11:10 AM
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum's traveling exhibition, "Deadly Medicine: Creating the Master Race," opened recently at Stony Brook University in the Charles B. Wang Center.

The exhibition examines how the Nazi leadership, in collaboration with individuals in professions traditionally charged with healing and the public good, used science to help legitimize persecution, murder and, ultimately, genocide.

Said Stephen Post, Ph.D., director, Center for Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care, and Bioethics at SBU, "Bioethics have always been important here," at the university. Courses for medical students on bioethics have been on the books for many years. Now, with the center, "we have an opportunity to broaden" that commitment.

Noted Post, patients "sometimes feel a lack of empathy, that element of the art of healing, that allows patients to feel safe, comfortable, to heal better, be more confident in their physicians." Post added how important it was to teach compassionate care: "Bioethics consists of all the quandaries from the beginning of life to the end of it."

Said Post, "I'm very interested in medical ethics at its best." Related to that is the question, "How is it that medical professionals and scientists can go from the very heights of moral insight to the very depths of evil and depravity?" as happened in Nazi Germany.

The importance of "Deadly Medicine," he added, is that the exhibit shows how "it all begins when we divide humans as superior — us — versus inferior — them."

The eugenics movement — literally from the Greek meaning wellborn — developed mainly in Germany but there were also elements of it in the United States. "Germany," said Post, "encouraged the more fit to reproduce. There were incentives to have more fit children. There were baby competitions — positive eugenics."

Negative eugenics developed with those who were seen as unfit being sterilized. That included those who were alcoholics, had epilepsy or other medical problems and those with developmental disabilities. Instead of showing compassion and caring for the weak, "the reverse was true in Nazi Germany in the 1930s. So many leading physicians were in the forefront and believed in the eugenics vision," said Post.

The next step occurred when racism crept in and those who saw themselves as part of the master race, did the unthinkable and began to murder those who were not seen as part of this superior race: Jews, Gypsies, people of color.

"The message of 'Deadly Medicine' is we should never depart from the bedrock premise that everyone is equal. All human beings have equal significance in this universe," said Post. "Every human being is worthy of our care and compassion." He added, "Medical professionals swear to 'do no harm.' As soon as you start dividing the world into superior and inferior and only apply 'do no harm' to the 'fit and superior' you have crossed the line into Hell and that's what occurred."

The exhibit may be seen Mondays through Fridays from noon to 4 pm. Check the website www.stonybrook.edu/sb/deadlymedicine for extended hours and holiday closings. A reception will be held on April 27 from 5 to 7 pm.

In addition to the exhibit, a series of lectures organized by the Center for Medical Humanities, Compassion Care, and Bioethics will be held developing various related themes. Dr. Elof Axel Carlson, professor emeritus, Stony Brook University, will speak today on "The Awkward Relation of Long Island's Eugenic Record Office and the Growth of Nazi Race Hygiene," at the Wang Center at 4 pm.

Lecture schedule

In connection with the exhibit, "Deadly Medicine: Creating the Master Race," the following guest speakers have been scheduled:

Thursday, April 23: Elof Axel Carlson, Ph.D., "The Awkward Relation of Long Island's Eugenic Record Office and the Growth of Nazi Race Hygiene."

Tuesday, April 28: Fred Rosner, M.D., "Kristallnacht 1938: Personal Experiences and Reflections."

Monday, May 4: Stephen G. Post, Ph.D., "Human 'Perfectibility' and Biological Redesign: A Reflection on Human Dignity."

Tuesday, May 5: Dean Richard N. Fine, M.D., "Physicians Can Build Bridges to Prevent Future Atrocities: Experiences in Poland During the Communist Era."

Wednesday, May 6: Stephen Spector, Ph.D., "Christian Zionism and the Holocaust."

Monday, May 11: Sara Lipton, Ph.D., "Christian Polemic and Jewish Difference in the Middle Ages."

Tuesday, May 12: Eva Kittay, Ph.D., "T-4, Mental Disability, and the Meaning of Racism."

Monday, May 18: Kraig Larkin, "The Ambivalence of Racial Hygiene."

The lectures will be held in the Wang Center, all at 4 pm, and are open to the public. The exhibit, which is not suitable for young children, will run through June 12.

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