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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Lydia Clark-Sumpter, MSN, PNP, RN, Bachelor of Science Nursing Department, Medgar Evers College of The City University of New York, 1650 Bedford Avenue, c/o Room 200 Carroll Street, Brooklyn, NY 11225, 718-270-6224, sumpter_fam@msn.com

When looking at the words euthanasia, “race hygiene”, and sterilization in Nazi Germany, the conduct of nurses and their effect is not usually considered. The role of nurses with regard to their ethical conduct in Nazi Germany during the Holocaust will be examined during this presentation. What role did nurses play and how did they rationalize their actions? Nurses in many instances, according to the research that will be presented, acted within the laws that were established at that time by Adolf Hitler. The laws established included forced sterilization for those determined to be unfit to produce offspring by persons presenting as mentally challenged or physically disabled; this was discussed by Shields (2005). Documentation has shown that nurses were directly involved in the killing of over 10,000 people during the Holocaust with very few nurses being tried for their actions according to Benedict & Kuhla (1999). Participation in these programs will be fully explored with regard to the era, laws, and ethical conduct of nurses during the Nazi Germany – Holocaust.

Learning Objectives:

• Articulate laws and programs of the Holocaust.
• Describe the role of nurses in Nazi Germany during the Holocaust.
• Explore forced sterilization and other programs that nurses were involved with.

Keywords: Human Rights, History

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation