I once saw a documentary about the atrocities committed by Japanese doctors during experiments conducted in WWII, which included a live pregnant woman's vivisection without anesthesia. Nazi ones are well known and widespread, the japanese not so much.
The documentary reports how candidate doctors about to participate in the brutal experiments were initially briefed about the work to be done as being "God's work", which - to be honest - made me raise an eyebrow, not so much for the high claim but more so because Japan is mainly a buddhist country.
Interviewed doctors reported how they treated subjects as 'logs', as a way of dehumanization.
When dealing with logs or numbers, everything goes... especially if has a God stamp of approval on it, I guess.
I remember that one of the doctors actually went around places apologising for the horrors committed. Another one said he would do it all again.
I just remembered the more recent case of the wife of former president Lula here in Brazil, who suffered from a brain aneurysm and, after being taken to one of the most upperclass hospitals in São Paulo, was attended by a doctor who joked with fellows on how they could just easily send her to the devil's company, with a simple procedure. I suppose any hint of socialist tendencies is enough for you to be classed as a demon in a wealthy class environment.
While some still abide to the Hippocratic Oath, others seem to see it as a meaningless - perhaps even godless - ritual. Having said that, if the subject is a demon, a log or a mere number, maybe they just feel the oath doesn't apply.
Gone are the times when you could easily entrust doctors with your life, despite the ever present possibility of a honest mistake.
I suppose education, much less a delusion of actually doing good work, doesn't exempt one from the corrupting influences of power and wealth.
ReplyDeleteI once saw a documentary about the atrocities committed by Japanese doctors during experiments conducted in WWII, which included a live pregnant woman's vivisection without anesthesia. Nazi ones are well known and widespread, the japanese not so much.
ReplyDeleteThe documentary reports how candidate doctors about to participate in the brutal experiments were initially briefed about the work to be done as being "God's work", which - to be honest - made me raise an eyebrow, not so much for the high claim but more so because Japan is mainly a buddhist country.
Interviewed doctors reported how they treated subjects as 'logs', as a way of dehumanization.
When dealing with logs or numbers, everything goes... especially if has a God stamp of approval on it, I guess.
I remember that one of the doctors actually went around places apologising for the horrors committed. Another one said he would do it all again.
I just remembered the more recent case of the wife of former president Lula here in Brazil, who suffered from a brain aneurysm and, after being taken to one of the most upperclass hospitals in São Paulo, was attended by a doctor who joked with fellows on how they could just easily send her to the devil's company, with a simple procedure. I suppose any hint of socialist tendencies is enough for you to be classed as a demon in a wealthy class environment.
ReplyDeleteWhile some still abide to the Hippocratic Oath, others seem to see it as a meaningless - perhaps even godless - ritual. Having said that, if the subject is a demon, a log or a mere number, maybe they just feel the oath doesn't apply.
Gone are the times when you could easily entrust doctors with your life, despite the ever present possibility of a honest mistake.
Better eat that apple a day.