|
|
March 9, 2006 LEGITIMIZING THE UNTHINKABLE: A DISABILITY RIGHTS PERSPECTIVE ON NAZI MEDICINE WITH HARRIET MCBRYDE JOHNSON Nazi science and medicine focused on eliminating both physical and mental impairments, real and perceived, as part of the path to "racial purity." Eugenics-based sterilization policies in Germany and throughout the world as well as the Nazis' so-called "euthanasia" program were often justified by physicians and scientists as relieving individual suffering while contributing to the "greater good." Renowned author, advocate, and attorney Harriet McBryde Johnson brought a disability rights perspective to bear on issues raised by the Museum's Deadly Medicine exhibition. |
Harriet McBryde Johnson speaks about the concept of cure
< get RealPlayer |
|
Transcript: RINGELHEIM: Can we talk about cure? JOHNSON: Okay. RINGELHEIM: I would think that most people who, in the audience, who are not disabled would say there's something important about medicine developing cures for certain diseases. JOHNSON: Yeah. RINGELHEIM: Do you think that's true? JOHNSON: I have no interest at all in a cure for my disease. And there again the community is by no means monolithic. Christopher Reeve really and truly cared deeply about cure. He was sincere. Nobody was forcing him to do the work that he did. And that's legitimate. That came from his experience. But to me, my disability is -- I mean, it is part of my DNA. It's in every -- every -- would you say "molecule" of me? I don't know enough about the biology. But I mean, you know, at the tiniest level, the disability is part of who I am and, you know I really have no interest in changing that. It seems to me much more interesting to figure out what to do with this kind of body and this kind of life. Now when my mother got breast cancer, I was very glad that there were some good treatments for her. And maybe that doesn't make sense, but maybe it does. I don't know. Does that make sense? |
