Thursday, May 31, 2007

It's ok, I'm a dentist


I was reading the New York Times today when something caught my eye. It seems that even the Hippocratic oath has it's limits in the War on Terror . In an article on the limits permitted American "interrogators" (a polite euphemism, if ever I heard one) the journalist mentioned this in passing;

"Mr. Krongard even recalls receiving a proposal for help with questioning Qaeda suspects from an American dentist who said he “could create pain no human being could withstand.”

This is a far cry from the modern oath which, amongst other things states quite clearly;

"Never to do deliberate harm to anyone for anyone else's interest."

Reading this I can't help but think of the Nazi war criminal/dentist played by Lawrence Olivier in the Marathon Man.

7 comments:

Lesley said...

I once used that scene from Marathon Man with a class of student dentists. Good for question forms, if I remember correctly!

teacher dude said...

But what did they think of Olivier's dental technique?!!!!!

Lesley said...

I think they mostly had to look away, which is reassuring!

Unknown said...


We’re devoted to making our patients feel comfortable and attractive in their smiles.
It is why they look to us for dental problems.
There’s no reason to think that you must conceal your smile any longer since we will assist you in getting that beautiful, flawless smile you’ve always dreamed of.
We’re happy to discuss your concerns. Our goal is to make your visit easy and comfortable.
dentist in santa clarita

neetechnologies said...


A Chicopee, MA orthodontist offers services in orthodontics and general dentistry. A great benefit of working with an orthodontist in Chicopee, MA is that the orthodontist has a great relationship with many local schools, hospitals, and other community organizations.

orthodontics in chicoppe ma

arthur said...


It is important to choose the right dentist. You can look in the phone book or online to find a dentist in CT. Make sure they are members of the American Dental Association (ADA)'s board. You can also ask friends and family for recommendations and trust their opinion.
dental clinic in new britain

James Wick said...
This comment has been removed by the author.