Nuremberg Code

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The so-called Nuremberg Codex is a central, currently applied ethical guideline for the preparation and implementation of medical, psychological and other experiments on humans. Since its formulation in the pronouncement of the verdict at the Nuremberg Doctors Trial (1946/47), it has been one of the medical ethical principles in medical training (similar to the Geneva Vow ). It states that in medical trials on humans

"The voluntary consent of the test subject (is) absolutely necessary. This means that the person in question must be legally capable of giving their consent; that she must be able to use her judgment , unaffected by violence , deceit, cunning, pressure, pretense or any other form of persuasion or coercion ; that they must know and understand the relevant area in detail in order to be able to make an informed and informed decision ”.

The reason for the Nuremberg Codex were the crimes against humanity committed in the name of medical research during the time of National Socialism , in particular “criminal medical experiments” and forced sterilization .

1997 was the 50th anniversary of the Nuremberg Doctors 'Trial and thus also the birth of the Nuremberg Doctors' Code of 1947. The Nuremberg regional group of the IPPNW took this as an opportunity to follow up the “Medicine and Conscience” congress in 1996 with a commemoration of the fundamental principles of the To remember the Code of 1947 and to relate the Nuremberg Code of 1997 to current medical ethical issues.

The ten points of the Nuremberg Code of 1947

(Opinion of the 1st American Military Tribunal on "Permitted Medical Experiments")

  1. The volunteer's consent is essential. This means that the person in question must be legally capable of giving their consent; that she must be able to use her judgment, unaffected by violence, deceit, cunning, pressure, pretense or any other form of persuasion or coercion; that they must know and understand the relevant area in detail to be able to make an informed and informed decision. This last condition makes it necessary that the subject be made aware of the nature, length and purpose of the experiment before obtaining consent; as well as the method and the means which are to be used, all inconveniences and dangers that are to be expected with justification, and the consequences for their health or their person that may result from participation. The duty and responsibility to determine the value of consent rests with anyone who orders, directs, or carries out the experiment. This is a personal duty and responsibility that cannot be passed on to others with impunity.
  2. The experiment must be designed in such a way that fruitful results for the welfare of society can be expected which cannot be obtained by other research means or methods. It cannot be arbitrary or superfluous by its nature.
  3. The experiment must be planned in such a way and based on the results of animal experiments and natural history knowledge about the disease or the research problem that the expected results will justify carrying out the experiment.
  4. The attempt is to be carried out in such a way that all unnecessary physical and mental suffering and damage are avoided.
  5. No experiment may be carried out if it can be assumed from the outset that it will lead to death or permanent damage, with the exception of those experiments in which the experimenter also serves as the test subject.
  6. The threat must never go beyond the limits imposed by the humanitarian significance of the problem to be solved.
  7. Adequate preparation and suitable devices must be provided to protect the test subject from the slightest possibility of injury, permanent damage, or death.
  8. The experiment may only be carried out by scientifically qualified persons. The greatest skill and caution are to be required of those directing or performing the experiment at all stages of the experiment.
  9. During the experiment, the test person must remain free to end the experiment if he has physically or mentally reached a point at which it seems impossible to continue.
  10. During the course of the experiment, the experimenter must be prepared at all times to stop the experiment if, based on the good faith required, his particular experience and careful judgment, he must suspect that continuing the experiment will result in injury, permanent damage or the Could result in death of the test subject.

See also

literature

  • Helmut Siefert : 'Nuremberg Code'. In: Werner E. Gerabek , Bernhard D. Haage, Gundolf Keil , Wolfgang Wegner (eds.): Enzyklopädie Medizingeschichte. De Gruyter, Berlin / New York 2005, ISBN 3-11-015714-4 , pp. 1057 f.
  • Matthias Meusch: Nuremberg medical trial. In: Werner E. Gerabek et al. (Ed.): Enzyklopädie Medizingeschichte. 2005, p. 14 f .; here: p. 15.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Gisela Klinkhammer: Ethical Codes in Medicine and Biotechnology: Protection against Medical Misconduct , in: Deutsches Ärzteblatt of October 31, 1997.
  2. ↑ Dominik Groß: 'Nuremberg Codex' . In: Christian Lenk, Gunnar Duttge, Heiner Fangerau (Hrsg.): Handbook Ethics and Law of Research on Humans . Springer, Berlin / Heidelberg 2014, ISBN 978-3-642-35099-3 , pp. 559-563 .
  3. ↑ Doris Schwarzmann-Schafhauser: "Medicine and Conscience - 50 Years After the Nuremberg Medical Trial" Congress 25. – 27. 10. 1996, Nuremberg. In: Würzburger medical history reports 17, 1998, pp. 569-572.

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