Killer Doctor
If your doctor was a convicted killer, would you trust him with your life?
Karl Svensson’s future as a doctor seemed certain when he was accepted to medical school at Sweden’s prestigious Karolinska Institute.
Famed for choosing the annual winners of the Nobel Prize in medicine, Karolinska hand-picked its medical students, selecting an elite group best suited for grappling with the ethics of life-or-death decisions and leading lives devoted to saving others.
But four months into Svensson’s studies, the 31 year-old’s future became unhinged by his past: would-be doctor Karl Svensson had killed a man.
Karolinska officials received two anonymous letters informing them that Svensson had been convicted of murder seven years earlier, shooting to death a trade union worker, in part because Svensson disagreed with the man’s politics. At the time, Svensson had been under surveillance by Sweden’s equivalent of the FBI for neo-Nazi involvement. Police classified the killing as a hate crime.
Svensson maintained his innocence, but was sentenced to 11 years in prison. After six and a half years, he was paroled, and soon accepted to med school.
The medical school could not expel Svensson because there was no government policy allowing for such action under the circumstances. Only when officials discovered that Svensson had falsified his high school transcripts by changing his last name from Hellekant—his legal name under which he was convicted—could they expel him. They did.
But students and officials remained divided. Some argued that a killer should never be allowed to practice medicine. Others said that since Svensson had served his time, he should be permitted to stay in school and become a doctor.
Tell us what you think: Should a man who was responsible for murder be allowed to be a doctor with the responsibility for saving people’s lives? Is it possible for a person to make a responsible contribution to society after making the most heinous one?
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Comments
Dr. Mengele
I agree – he could be another Joseph Mengele. Not worth the risk to his (possibly) Jewish patients, or for that matter, his patients who are members of trade unions. Someone this opinionated will not make a good doctor, in my opinion. There may be others practicing the profession just as opinionated as he. There may be thousands of anti-semitic doctors in the world – but have they also murdered people for political beliefs? I hope not – and I hope I do not become their patient.
claire Callahan Goodman | 1 year, 8 months ago
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They have to get prison doctors someplace
Let him become a doctor and practice in prison.
Anita chiquita | 1 year, 7 months ago
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Awesome!
Anita Chiquita, your wisdom is not unlike Solomon’s!
elizabeth | 1 year, 2 months ago
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I thought so too
Unfortunately, I felt the same way you did. So did my friends, Brian and Beverly Mauck, who were murdered by their neighbor, who they played poker with every Friday night and knew of the “price” he paid to society and believed his lies and manipulation. He murdered them over $50 November 17, 2007 because Brian called him a “punk”. I’ve been called way worse. I am a lot more guarded with my life now and have every reason to be. I think I trusted people too much and was thinking “it can never happen to me” kind of attitude. Well, if I was single with no children, that may be a good way to live: free and fancy. Now, that I’m a wife and mother of 12 years, I have a responsibility to my family. I don’t treat anybody in that situation wrongly, but I am scared to embrace them in my life. IT IS NOT WORTH IT. Treat people with respect but know their past. Keep your family and friends safe. Do research.
Lisa Racca | 1 year, 4 months ago
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I worked in Dentistry for many years, and I found that if a dishonest man has a lot of power and knowledge, they can and do manipulate patients for their benefit. I quit two practices because of serious ethical breaches. One of my best friends worked for a children’s dentist who overdosed a kid with sedation who quit breathing. They revived him, and did not tell the mother. My friend told her and got fired. Dishonesty, moral problems and power over others, is a dangerous combination.
Anonymous | 1 year, 1 month ago
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No!
Why should he be trusted to take other people’s lives in his own hands when he already took one away? There are consequences to crimes and doing prison time isn’t all of it. Becoming a doctor is a necessity and a privilege – there are others much more qualified than a convicted murderer.
Mimi Brown | 10 months, 3 weeks ago
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Killer doctor
If he was convicted of murder, whether or not he committed the crime, he HAS PAID HIS DEBT to society. He should be able to do whatever he wants. We should be happy he wants to do something positive with his years, like becoming a doctor. Kudos to him.
LORNA BRAWN | 9 months ago
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This is one of the most asinine questions ever asked. Would you let him work on your child or anyone you cared about. He may have so called “paid his price to society”, but until he can bring that person back to life, he can not be in charge of other people’s lives. This is dumb to even ask. What is going on? Is the world totally mad?
ARTHUR KOENIGSBERG | 8 months ago
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Re: Killer Doctor
It’s not surprising that people have their own opinion about it, since the doctor killed a man; but if he is serious about his profession, then why not give him a chance. On the other hand, If his patients would know that he had killed a person before, of course they will fear him and would not pursue their treatment. With this, he must just choose another career.
Dentists Garland | 8 months ago
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Not a good Ideal.......
Well what if he gets mad at a person hes treating
and lets them die.???????????
Catherine Grywalski | 4 months ago
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