Nuremberg Doctors' Trial
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NUREMBERG DOCTORS' TRIAL Informed consent in human experimentaton before the Nuremberg code Jochen Vollmann, Rolf Winau T7his Nuremberg issue of the The issue ofethics with respect to medical experi- BMJ comprises seven mentation in Germany during the 1930s and 1940s papers in this special was crucial at the Nuremberg trials and related section, editorials by trials of doctors and public health officials. Those Jennifer Leaning and involved in horrible crimes attempted to excuse Donald Acheson, two themselves by arguing that there were no explicit personal views,four news rules governing medical research on human items and three book beings in Germany during the period and that reviews. In addition, we are research practices in Germany were not different publishing on from those in allied countries. In this context the pp 1448-9 the Nuremberg Nuremberg code of 1947 is generally regarded as codefrom 1947 and the the first document to set out ethical regulations in Declaration ofHelsinki that human experimentation based on informed was derivedfrom it. All the consent. New research, however, indicates that Nuremberg material is ethical issues of informed consent in guidelines available on the BMJ's for human experimentation were recognised as homepage: http:I/ early as the nineteenth century. These guidelines www. bmj. com shed light on the still contentious issue ofwhen the concepts of autonomy, informed consent, and therapeutic and non-therapeutic research first emerged. This issue assumes renewed importance in the context of current attempts to assess liabil- ity and responsibility for the abuse of people in various experiments conducted since the second world war in the United States, Canada, Russia, and other nations. First Prussian directive on informed consent Albert Neisser, 1855-19fi6 The introduction of scientific and experimental methodology into clinical medicine in the nineteenth century brought with it an increased demand for method of syphilis prevention he injected cell free experimentation on human subjects, particularly in serum from patients with syphilis into patients who bacteriology, immunology, and physiology. This were admitted for other medical conditions. Most of research was done mainly on patients in hospital, often these patients were prostitutes, who were neither without their consent, under an "ethos of science and informed about the experiment nor asked for their con- medical progress." As a result of injury to some patients sent. When some of them contracted syphilis Neisser subjected to non-therapeutic research, however, contro- concluded that the "vaccination" did not work. versy and public debate ensued about the ethics of However, he argued that the women did not contract human experimentation.1 syphilis as a result ofhis serum injections but contracted In 1891 the Prussian minister of the interior issued a the disease because they worked as prostitutes. Liberal directive to all prisons that tuberculin for the treatment newspapers published these and other cases, triggering of tuberculosis "must in no case be used against the public debate. patient's will."' But the first detailed regulations about Most academic physicians at the time supported non-therapeutic research in Western medicine came Neisser. An exception was Albert Moll,6 a psychiatrist in from the Prussian minister for religious, educational, private practice in Berlin, who collected in his and medical affairs in 1900. They were issued after Physicians'Ethics 600 cases ofunethical non-therapeutic critical public discussion and political debate on the research on humans and emphasised the need for Neisser case in the Prussian parliament and set forth the informed consent. Moll also developed a legally based, Institute ofthe History of legal basis of disclosure and unmistakable consent.' 2 Of positivistic contract theory of the patient-doctor Medicine, Free University particular interest is the debate within the medical pro- relationship, which is widely ignored in current bio- ofBerlin, 12203 Berlin fession and the political circumstances. Jochen Voilmann, professor ethics publications.7 RolfWinau, director and In 1898 the public prosecutor investigated the case, professor and Neisser was fined by the Royal Disciplinary Court. The Neisser case The court ruled that, though Neisser as a well known Correspondence to: In 1898 Albert Neisser, discoverer of the gonococcus medical authority may have been convinced that the tri- Professor Vollmann. and professor of dermatology and venereology at the als were harmless, he should have sought the patients' University of Breslau, published clinical trials on serum consent. Not questionable science but lack of patients' BMJ 1996;313:1445-7 therapy in patients with syphilis. In order to find a consent was the main principle for the legal judgment. BMJ voLuME 313 7 DECEMBER 1996 1445 GOVERNMENT ACTION explanation of the possible negative consequences" of The Prussian parliament also discussed the case sev- the intervention. All research interventions could be eral times and in 1899 asked the government to act. As performed only by the medical director or with his or a result the minister for religious, educational, and her authorisation. In all cases fulfilment of these medical affairs commissioned a detailed report from the requirements as well as all further circumstances of the Scientific Medical Office of Health, which was case had to be "documented in the medical history."' composed ofleading German physicians such as Rudolf Despite all this, however, the directive was not legally Virchow. The commission directed its attention to binding and little is known of its impact on human beneficence and autonomy. It concluded that a experimentation. physician who recognised that an injected serum might cause infection had no right to inject such a serum. In any case, both informing the subject and obtaining the Circular ofthe Reich minister ofthe interior: subject's consent were preconditions to experimenta- guidelines for new therapy and human tion. In a handwritten report Emil von Behring argued experimentation, 1931 that, particularly with reference to the Neisser case, self Because of criticism of unethical human experimen- experimentation should always precede experiments on tation in the political press and in parliament as well as patients. He personally held that purely scientific in the context of a political reform of criminal law in experimentation on human subjects was unethical even Germany, in 1931 the Reich government issued if they gave voluntary consent.'4 detailed "guidelines for new therapy and human experi- The minister also sought legal advice on the Neisser mentation." The guidelines clearly distinguished case. Lawyers stated that conducting non-therapeutic between therapeutic ("new therapy") and non- research on a subject without consent fulfilled the crite- therapeutic research ("human experimentation") and ria for causing physical injury in criminal law. The set out strict precautions. scientific validity of the experiment did not serve as Besides the principles of beneficence and non- mitigation. Informed consent was a mandatory precon- maleficence, the regulations were based on patient dition for any non-therapeutic research. Problems of autonomy and a legal doctrine of informed consent. "New therapy may be applied only if consent or proxy coercion, persuasion, and the unequal authority consent has been between doctor and patient were discussed in detail, given in a clear and undebatable man- and the lawyers concluded that respect for rights and ner following appropriate information. New therapy morality had the same importance for the good of man- may be introduced without consent only if it is urgently kind as medical and scientific progress. Written required and cannot be postponed because of the need documentation and clear responsibility of the medical to save life or prevent severe damage to health. ." In director for all human experimentation became legal those cases a written report must clearly outline the doctrine. preconditions. But non-therapeutic research was Finally, in 1900 the minister for "under no circumstances permissible without religious, 18 Written and medical affairs a to consent."8 documentation and a clear educational, issued directive all structure of hospitals and clinics. Medical directors were advised responsibility for each clinical trial were that all medical interventions other than for diagnosis, required. Though an early model of institutional review healing, and immunisation were excluded under all cir- boards was discussed, the official guideline adopted the cumstances if "the human subject was a minor or not hierarchical model from the directive of 1900, in which competent for other reasons" or if the subject had not the medical director was responsible for all clinical given his or her "unambiguous consent" after a "proper research in the institution. As later formulated in the Nuremberg code, a careful cost-benefit calculation and a detailed research plan with animal experimentation beforehand were already required to minimise risk to human subjects. Some regulations were even stricter and more detailed than those contained in the Nuremberg code and the much later Declaration of Helsinki. Human experimentation on dying patients was absolutely prohibited. Publication of the results of new therapy must respect the patient's dignity and the mandate of humanity. In academic teaching every opportunity should be taken to emphasise