Dezentrale „Euthanasie“ in der Heil- und Pflegeanstalt Niedernhart. Untersuchung am Beispiel ausgewählter Krankenakten.

Abstract

Wild “Euthanasia” in the care and nursing home Niedernhart. An analysis based on medical records

This paper deals with medical records from the Upper Austrian care and nursing home Niedernhart. Under the National Socialist regime, especially after “Aktion T4” was discontinued in August 1941, thousands of people were medically treated in this institution and many of them died. In line with the current state of research, this paper does not question that people were intentionally killed by the director of the institution, Dr. Lonauer, and some of his staff, but rather examines whether targeted killing of patients can be proven by scrutinizing medical records. Twelve of these documents are reviewed in detail.