Closed Venereology Wards in the German Democratic Republic
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2019
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
RSU Medicīnas vēstures institūts. Paula Stradiņa Medicīnas vēstures muzejs.
Abstract
Over the 40-year existence of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), multiple thousands of women have been committed to closed venereol- ogy wards. The system of compulsory hospitalisation to closed venere- ology wards established in the GDR was based on the Soviet healthcare system. Its purpose was not simply to sanction behavior that diverged from the prescribed socialist norm but also to educate women in accordance with socialist standards. The involuntarily committed women in the GDR were treated by measures of politicised medicine. This medicine was shaped and executed by actors who imposed their own standards on the victimised women daily. Moreover, all closed venereology wards in the GDR were monitored by the Ministry of State Security through a network of inoffi- cial informants.
Description
Keywords
East Germany, education, Ministry of State Security, patient isolation, physician-patient relations, political activities, sexually transmitted diseases, VDR / Austrumvācija, izglītība, Valsts drošības ministrija, pacientu izolācija, pacientu un ārstu attiecības, politiskās aktivitātes, seksuāli transmisīvās slimības