A Reconsideration of Library Treatment of Ethically Questionable Medical Texts: The Case of <em>The Pernkopf Atlas of Anatomy</em>

Authors

  • Laurel Scheinfeld
  • Jamie Saragossi
  • Kathleen Kasten-Mutkus

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5860/lrts.64n4.165-176

Abstract

The Pernkopf Atlas of Anatomy consists of anatomical drawings created by Austrian physician Eduard Pernkopf, an active member of the Nazi Party during World War II. While the book was known for its highly detailed anatomical drawings, in the 1990s it was determined that Holocaust victims were likely used as subjects for the drawings. Using a survey, the authors aimed to gather information about the presence of this monograph in academic libraries today to provide best practice recommendations for academic libraries in their approach to ethically questionable materials.

Author Biographies

Laurel Scheinfeld

Laurel Scheinfeld (laurel.scheinfeld@stonybrook.edu) is a Health Sciences Librarian at Stony Brook University Libraries.

Jamie Saragossi

Jamie Saragossi (jamie.saragossi@stonybrook.edu) is the Head of the Health Sciences Library at Stony Brook University.

Kathleen Kasten-Mutkus

Kathleen Kasten-Mutkus (kathleen.kasten@stonybrook.edu) is Head of Humanities and Social Sciences at Stony Brook University Libraries.

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Published

2020-11-11

Issue

Vol. 64 No. 4 (2020): October

Section

Features

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