Sunday Sequence

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Religion & Ethics

Audrey Carville and guests debate the week's religious and ethical news.

Audrey Carville and guests debate the week's religious and ethical news and explore the world of culture and ideas.

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Sunday Sequence: Ethics of taking Good from Evil

Ethics of taking good from evil

Ethics of taking Good from Evil

BBC Radio Ulster - Sunday Sequence, Ethics of taking Good from Evil

The ethics of today's surgeons using a Nazi guide to human anatomy.

What are the ethics of taking the benefits from medical research carried out using torture or on the bodies of executed victims?

The Pernkopf Topographic Anatomy of Man is often described as the definitive book of its kind. It was first published over 80 years ago and contains complex, hand-drawn illustrations, showing the human body layer by layer, every nerve, every sinew - and is still used by surgeons throughout the world. 

What is chilling about it though, is that each of the illustrations in it is based on research carried out by Nazis on hundreds of their executed victims. The book was a 20-year project of Dr Eduard Pernkopf - an ardent Nazi who proudly wore the National Socialist uniform to work every day.

A grisly history but should we overlook that and focus on the good that can come from evil or is it tainted forever? And what about countless other examples - from how vaccines were developed in the past that now save the lives of thousands to even crossing species and the conduction of tests and research using animals? What's the moral code in all of this?

Presenter Audrey Carville in conversation with Dr Maureen O'Sullivan from the Law School at NUI Galway, her PhD and recent book are on morally controversial biotech inventions. Also taking part is the author and broadcaster and rabbi, Dr Jonathan Romain and the commentator and academic Dr Leon Litvack.

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