ABSTRACT
Although 75 years have passed since the end of World War II, the Max Planck Society (Max-Planck Gesellschaft, MPG), successor to the Kaiser Wilhelm Society (Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gesellschaft, KWG), still must grapple with how two of its foremost institutes-the KWI of Psychiatry in Munich and the KWI for Brain Research in Berlin-Buch-amassed collections of brains from victims of Nazi crimes, and how these human remains were retained for postwar research. Initial efforts to deal with victim specimens during the 1980s met with denial and, subsequently, rapid disposal in 1989/1990. Despite the decision of the MPG's president to retain documentation for historical purposes, there are gaps in the available sources. This article provides preliminary results of a research program initiated in 2017 (to be completed by October 2023) to provide victim identifications and the circumstances of deaths.
Subject(s)
National Socialism , Psychiatry , Humans , History, 20th Century , National Socialism/history , Brain , Academies and Institutes , GermanyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: To prevent the planet from catastrophic global warming a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to net zero is required. Thus, divestment from fossil fuels must be a strategic interest for health insurers. The aim of this study was to analyse the implementation of environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria in German private health insurers' investments. METHODS: In 2019 a survey about ESG strategies was sent to German private health insurance companies. The survey evaluated investment strategies and thresholds for the exclusion of sectors and business practices, as well as company strategies for sustainable business development. FINDINGS: Given their business reports, German private health insurers manage assets of more than 350 billion. 11 of 40 insurance companies provided quantitative data, 10 refused to answer. According to quantitative data, 66 billion of assets is managed according to any ESG criteria; this equals an average of 76% of each company's bonds. None of these insurers excluded the production and sale of fossil fuels. All excluded coal mining but only at high thresholds. For 226 billion, no data were provided. INTERPRETATION: The findings are in contrast to the expected intrinsic economic interest of the insurers to stop global warming and improve public health. The majority of assets are managed in a highly problematic manner, especially the absence of capital allocated in fields contrary to medical ethics (eg, firearms, armour) cannot be presumed. Lack of transparency is a major problem that limits clients in choosing the insurer who has the most advanced ESG criteria.
Subject(s)
Ethics, Medical , Financial Management/economics , Investments/ethics , Pensions , Physicians/economics , GermanyABSTRACT
Involuntary treatment in psychiatry should be reflected under the German constitutional right of self-determination und the ethical principles of autonomy and beneficience. Forced treatment in psychiatry should be applied only as a last resort. A narrative perspective reconstructs the case of Gustl Mollath who was hospitalized in forensic-psychiatric institutions because of an alleged delusion. Psychiatric experts should be aware of the potential of misuse when defining what is real and what seems to be a delusion.
Subject(s)
Commitment of Mentally Ill/legislation & jurisprudence , Ethics, Medical , Mental Disorders/diagnosis , Mental Disorders/therapy , Psychiatry/ethics , Psychiatry/legislation & jurisprudence , Delusions/diagnosis , Delusions/psychology , Expert Testimony/ethics , Expert Testimony/legislation & jurisprudence , Female , Germany , Humans , Informed Consent/ethics , Informed Consent/legislation & jurisprudence , Informed Consent/psychology , Male , Mental Disorders/psychology , Middle Aged , Narration , National Health Programs/ethics , National Health Programs/legislation & jurisprudence , Personal Autonomy , Physician-Patient Relations/ethics , Psychotropic Drugs/therapeutic useABSTRACT
During World War II, psychiatric patients hospitalized in asylums in Eastern Prussia became victims of two separate killing programmes: first, by the SS-special command Lange, second by the centrally (in Berlin) organized "euthanasia"-"Aktion T4". By an analysis of the patient files of the victims, the present paper shows that the historical actors responsible for the killings were communicating with each other. It is now also possible to reconstruct the exact dynamic in time and space of the killings. A comparative analysis of the selection criteria within the total population of the asylums documents that in both programs, the responsible historical actors included physicians and provincial administrative personnel; it further shows that under the conditions of war, only patients who were able to contribute to the asylum work and economy, and were behaviourally adapted could survive.
