Nuremburg Code
One of the only codified lessons in history, which means it should be violated by nations at every opportunity.
An international agreement that is formally recognized by governments because it benefits them politically, but holds no weight within individual nations because none of them have adopted it as law.
The ambitious prefer to interpret history as they see fit, which typically means in a manner that justifies their aspirations. If one of the ills of history becomes officially recognized on a global scale to the point that it becomes an international agreement, then it has the potential to interfere with irresponsible governance. As a result, nations will signal their benevolence on the world stage by committing to abide by such agreements up until the point that more lucrative priorities emerge.
At the end of the Holocaust, after recognizing the unethical medical practices of German physicians, the Western world went through the effort of establishing the absoluteness of one’s right to informed consent. It then becomes immediately clear that, if coercion is present in any form with respect to medical treatments or practices, it is by definition, a violation of the Nuremburg Code.
This is troublesome when governments want the citizenry to DO OUR PART in situations when they fail to persuade us with any legitimate arguments. In these situations, the government’s position will be that the citizenry is either irresponsible, traitorous, ignorant, or disposable, and this proves that we need to be coerced through rhetoric or forced to do the right thing. We must be made to be good citizens by unscrupulous and amoral bureaucrats. This is exactly the position that the Nazis held, but this contempt for ordinary citizens is somehow discussed in conspicuously different terms in modern times. It is now described as progress, which is coincidentally exactly what the Nazis called it. Apparently, it is only evil when observed in history; if it occurs in the present, it is a necessary step done in service of the GREATER GOOD.
When Nuremburg is being transparently violated in full view of the public, something significant is happening, and it imperative that we discover it.
For your perusal, here is the Nuremburg Code:
The Nuremburg Code (1949)
1. The voluntary consent of the human subject is absolutely essential. This means that the person involved should have legal capacity to give consent; should be so situated as to be able to exercise free power of choice, without the intervention of any element of force, fraud, deceit, duress, over-reaching, or other ulterior form of constraint or coercion; and should have sufficient knowledge and comprehension of the elements of the subject matter involved, as to enable him to make an understanding and enlightened decision. This latter element requires that, before the acceptance of an affirmative decision by the experimental subject, there should be made known to him the nature, duration, and purpose of the experiment; the method and means by which it is to be conducted; all inconveniences and hazards reasonably to be expected; and the effects upon his health or person, which may possibly come from his participation in the experiment. The duty and responsibility for ascertaining the quality of the consent rests upon each individual who initiates, directs or engages in the experiment. It is a personal duty and responsibility which may not be delegated to another with impunity.
2. The experiment should be such as to yield fruitful results for the good of society, unprocurable by other methods or means of study, and not random and unnecessary in nature.
3. The experiment should be so designed and based on the results of animal experimentation and a knowledge of the natural history of the disease or other problem under study, that the anticipated results will justify the performance of the experiment.
4. The experiment should be so conducted as to avoid all unnecessary physical and mental suffering and injury.
5. No experiment should be conducted, where there is an a priori reason to believe that death or disabling injury will occur; except, perhaps, in those experiments where the experimental physicians also serve as subjects.
6. The degree of risk to be taken should never exceed that determined by the humanitarian importance of the problem to be solved by the experiment.
7. Proper preparations should be made and adequate facilities provided to protect the experimental subject against even remote possibilities of injury, disability, or death.
8. The experiment should be conducted only by scientifically qualified persons. The highest degree of skill and care should be required through all stages of the experiment of those who conduct or engage in the experiment.
9. During the course of the experiment, the human subject should be at liberty to bring the experiment to an end, if he has reached the physical or mental state, where continuation of the experiment seemed to him to be impossible.
10. During the course of the experiment, the scientist in charge must be prepared to terminate the experiment at any stage, if he has probable cause to believe, in the exercise of the good faith, superior skill and careful judgement required of him, that a continuation of the experiment is likely to result in injury, disability, or death to the experimental subject.(1)
"Trials of War Criminals before the Nuremberg Military Tribunals under Control Council Law No. 10", Vol. 2, pp. 181-182. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1949.]
(1) https://research.wayne.edu/irb/pdf/2-2-the-nuremberg-code.pdf
Posted: 25 Jan 2023