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The 'first to perish'. Child euthanasia in the Third Reich
1Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University Faculty of Medicine, Montreal, Quebec.
Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
|February 7, 1998
Summary
Nazi racial policy led to the systematic euthanasia of disabled children. This article examines the "scientific thought" and implementation of this horrific program, highlighting pediatrician Werner Catel.
Area of Science:
- Medical Ethics
- History of Medicine
- Public Health Policy
Background:
- The Third Reich implemented racial policies aimed at improving racial fitness.
- These policies targeted vulnerable populations, including physically and mentally handicapped children.
- A systematic program of active euthanasia for disabled children preceded the wider atrocities of World War II.