Shields, Linda, and Benedict, Susan (2014) Conclusion. In: Benedict, Susan, and Shields, Linda, (eds.) Nurses and Midwives in Nazi Germany: the "euthanasia programs". Routledge Studies in Modern European History, 20 . Routledge, New York, NY, USA, pp. 243-247.

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Abstract

[Extract] The topic of this book is both distressing and shocking. Since we began studying the role of nurses as killers, we have been told that this is not a suitable topic for study, that nurses "would never do those things", and at times, despite concepts of academic freedom, employers (at times, and for one of us-LS) have found it hard to understand why we would study this, and have tried to put barriers in our way. Such ideas and behaviors have strengthened our resolve to continue. We strongly believe not only that this is a worthy topic for study but also that we are morally obliged to continue this journey. Our profession (and that of midwifery, too) cannot move forward and develop to its full potential unless such a dark side of its history is acknowledged and addressed. In 2011, the German Medical Association (Bundesarztekammer) (Livingstone 2012) apologized for the actions of physicians during the Nazi era. We suggest that it is time that German nursing and midwifery also do so through their respective organizations.

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