MEDICINE AND THE GULAG

The nature of the medical treatment of prisoners in the Gulag has emer ged from accounts published by survivors. Over a period of 70 years so me doctors entrusted with the medical care of prisoners failed to disc harge their ethical duties, contributing to the prisoners' neglect and suffering. The medical profession must carefully examine what occurre d and properly assign responsibility for ethical as well as unethical medical acts. Understanding the history of these ominous events will a lert doctors worldwide to the importance of medical autonomy in the su pport of imprisoned patients.