Psychiatry under National Socialism: remembrance and responsibility.

摘要

Ladies and Gentlemen! Under National Socialism, psychiatrists showed contempt towards the patients in their care; they lied to them and deceived them and their families. They forced them to be sterilised, arranged their deaths and even performed killings themselves. Patients were used as test subjects for unjustifiable research-research that left them traumatised or even dead.Why has it taken us so long to face up to these facts and deal openly with this dark chapter in our history? Although we are proud that the German Association for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (DGPPN) is one of the oldest scientific medical associations in the world, for too long now we have been hiding, denying a crucial part of our past. For that, we are truly ashamed.