1044 PERNKOPF AND THE BLIND EYE

Abstract

You have accessJournal of UrologyMale Voiding Dysfunction (BPH & Incontinence) & Infection1 Apr 20121044 PERNKOPF AND THE BLIND EYE Jerry Greenberg, Alfredo Guevara, and Michael Moran Jerry GreenbergJerry Greenberg Tucson, AZ More articles by this author , Alfredo GuevaraAlfredo Guevara Nogales, AZ More articles by this author , and Michael MoranMichael Moran Tucson, AZ More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.juro.2012.02.1149AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES The Nazi atrocities that were attributed to physicians have long been pondered discussed as to how such intelligent individuals could have been perverted into either actively participating in experimental inhumane investigations or even tangentially affiliated with such atrocities. Eduard Pernkopf was an outspoken National Socialist (NS) sympathizer and after the war his crimes against humanity were minimized and his Topographical Anatomy of Man went through an American edition before someone began to question his willingness to collect “specimens” from victims of Nazi genocides. METHODS A review of Pernkopf's writings, his journal articles, and access to a rare textbook of his anatomical work represents the primary sources. Subsequent writings about Pernkopf's textbook of anatomy, ethical works about his NS ideologies, and calls to ban and/or destroy this anatomical work were secondary sources. RESULTS Eduard Pernkopf was a early Nazi Party supporter from Vienna, Austria. He appears to have gathered about his Section of Anatomy, a whole host of talented artisans who were also rabid Nazi sympathizers while eliminating 153/197 Jewish faculty. Pernkopf used his Nazi sympathies to consolidate anatomical science in Vienna that had been separated by racial prejudice for decades- he formally reunited the Anatomy I and II into one chairmanship with the help of the SS in April 1938 just weeks after the Anchluss. He utilized his anatomical material to make his fabulous anatomical illustrations for his famous textbook of anatomy. Nowhere in his academic works, did Pernkopf admit to using innocent human beings who were being systematically exterminated throughout much of Europe. Pernkopf was incarcerated for three years after the war, but was rapidly rehabilitated, yet he never admitted to any wrongdoing. Despite this, his name was sullied by clearly participating during the Third Reich's 12 year reign. CONCLUSIONS Pernkopf died on April 7, 1955 of a stroke and was much lauded as a “lover of music and composer of an unpublished symphonic drama, a great teacher, researcher, and human being” by his successor Dr. Hayek. His textbook, the magnum opus of his professional career became a widely acclaimed anatomical guide and a first American edition appeared in 1963. In 1988, investigations into the anatomical collections indicated that over 1400 bodies from innocent Nazi atrocities were utilized for illustrations in this anatomical treatise, he blithely disregarded his Nazi past and admitted to doing no wrong, his peers essentially agreed turning a “blind eye” to any links between his academics and his politics. © 2012 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 187Issue 4SApril 2012Page: e423 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2012 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Jerry Greenberg Tucson, AZ More articles by this author Alfredo Guevara Nogales, AZ More articles by this author Michael Moran Tucson, AZ More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...