The Jewish Hospital: Medical Ethics and Moral Courage in Nazi Berlin

Inspired by the true story of his grandmother, a young Jewish nurse at Berlin's Jewish Hospital during World War II, physician and novelist Jonathan Hammel explores the extraordinary ethical dilemmas faced by doctors, nurses, and patients practicing medicine under Nazi rule.

Drawing on years of historical research and the experiences that inspired his novel The Jewish Hospital, Dr. Hammel examines questions that remain surprisingly relevant today: What does it mean to care for patients inside a system that contradicts medicine's core values? How do healthcare professionals respond when institutional demands conflict with their ethical obligations? And what can modern medicine learn from those who faced impossible choices under extreme circumstances?

Combining history, storytelling, and ethical reflection, this discussion invites participants to consider not only what happened, but what they themselves might have done.

Reading the novel in advance is encouraged, as the discussion will draw extensively on the ethical and professional challenges explored in the book. Purchase a copy of the novel: https://www.amazon.com/Jewish-Hospital-Jonathan-Hammel/dp/1510786449