Criticism of human genetics editorial

The head of the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians, Klaus Heckemann, has triggered a wave of criticism with an editorial on the subject of human genetics. Among other things, he writes about genetic diagnostics and "eugenics in its best and most humane sense". In a statement, the main committee of the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians in Saxony (KVS) emphatically distanced itself from these statements "in terms of style, choice of words and positioning in terms of content".

"Eugenics" stands for the doctrine of supposedly good hereditary traits. Under the guise of this term, the National Socialists carried out mass murders of disabled people for the purpose of supposed "hereditary and racial hygiene".

In his editorial, which appeared in the June issue of "KVS-Mitteilungen", Heckemann describes a "vision of the future" for genetic testing. According to this, all women who wish to have children should be offered a complete mutation search for hereditary diseases.

The main committee of the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians in Saxony wrote that Heckemann's statements put a socially and medically relevant and very important topic in the wrong light. He had thus crossed a line. The main committee will discuss the necessary consequences with the assembly of representatives. Heckemann did not initially comment on the accusations when asked.

The Ministry of Social Affairs also distanced itself from Heckemann's statements, as a spokesperson announced on request. "The Ministry of Social Affairs and I expressly endorse the criticism of the associations and professional societies," said Social Affairs Minister Petra Köpping (SPD). The large number of horrified reactions showed that these statements were damaging to the KVS and the doctors organized there. "We have sought a personal meeting with Dr. Klaus Heckemann today and expressed our position."

Open letter from representatives of Dresden University Medicine

Representatives of Dresden University Medicine had previously described Heckemann as "no longer acceptable" in an open letter to Köpping. "We have taken note of the editorial with great dismay and concern, irritation and incomprehension," wrote the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at TU Dresden, Esther Troost, the board members of Dresden University Hospital, Michael Albrecht and Frank Ohi, as well as numerous other doctors at the hospital on Tuesday.

During the National Socialist era, the term "eugenics" was used for racial hygiene measures to reduce or eliminate "life unworthy of life", write the signatories. It is "shocking and incomprehensible that a prominent representative of the Saxon medical profession and therapists should be allowed to publicly disseminate such ideas".

The health policy spokesperson for the Green parliamentary group, Markus Scholz, also criticized the references to National Socialist ideas in a press release. "Especially in view of the Nazi crimes against people with disabilities, the statements made in his editorial are disturbing." Heckemann is once again damaging the reputation of the state and the Saxon medical profession.