Response to the commentary on “Anatomy in the Third Reich: An outline” by G. Aumüller and R. Hildebrand

In agreement with Aumüller and Hildebrand’s commentary, I would like to emphasize that the potential lessons to be learned from the history of the ‘‘Anatomy in the Third Reich’’ do not only concern German anatomists but the worldwide anatomical community. We all face the dangers of an imbalance of clinical detachment and empathy on a daily basis and should be aware of our political situation. At this time, it is not so much the ‘‘dangers of ideological indoctrination’’ looming from the outside, that we should be afraid of, but the more insidious dangers from our inside, a possible lack of insight into ourselves and the basis of our moral decisions. Future discussions have to focus on potential areas of ethical compromise in current anatomy.