WHAT SHOULD WE DO ABOUT PERNKOPF,EDUARD ATLAS

Eduard Pernkopf created a classic anatomy atlas during World War II. H e was also an ardent Nazi, Questions have been raised recently about t he propriety of using an atlas created by a Nazi and illustrated by di ssections of cadavers whose identities are unknown, but who could have been victims of Nasi political terror. To examine the ethical issues involved, the author first reviews recently published work regarding P ernkopf and his atlas, with the caution that facts are few in a debate where emotions run high and opinions abound. He then considers what h as been written by bioethicists on the use of scientific data from the Nasi era and how those arguments might apply to Pernkopf and his atla s. important questions remain, however. For example, are scientific da ta tainted by their associations with Nazism, or should such data (inc luding the atlas) be assessed on their own merits, separate from the p ersons and ideologies involved in their creation? Finally, the author offers his own perspective as a young gross anatomist and physician. H e argues that rejecting the hateful beliefs of Pernkopf and his fellow Nazis does not necessitate rejecting the elegant anatomic images they produced. The author further suggests that use of the atlas is itself the most fitting tribute to those who died for it, whether they were victims of Nazi repression or not. Those cadavers not only teach anato my, they ''can remind us of suffering not only in the past but in the present, that we may be more compassionate physicians, more compassion ate citizens of the world.''.