The Responsibility Project^®. Exploring what it means to do the right thing

Bad Medicine

45 Comments

April 3, 2008 by Kathy McManus

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?

45 Comments

What do you think? Leave a comment

• April 3, 2008 by Sue Wood

  I believe if we aspire to be civilized we should rehabilitate criminals and forgive. I believe a person can change. However, the crime Hellekant-Svensson was convicted of is distressing. Neo-Nazism ideology is toxic. My beloved fiance was murdered in Denmark by skin-heads. The Danish government did nothing to acknowledge the hate-factor. So I have no idea where the killers are now. But in Svenssons' case, he has gone through medical school ... it suggests he wants to help others. What does he have to say now? Does he want to redeem himself? Is he a good doctor?

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• April 3, 2008 by ARIEL

  I would not like to have a killer treat me or my family whether he served time or not, who's to say he won't kill again?

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  • April 3, 2008 by viktor

    I would never trust such a man. If a man killed another man, who is made in the image of God, he becomes dangerous. He can do it again, just like jumping from a high cliff, or parachute. God's law demands payment with life for life, not some 6 years in a room where you read books, watch tv and lift weights! What is that? Justice? And being a doctor? It betrays the profession! During Nazi regime, doctors did gruesome things to supposedly speed up the discovery of 'life saving' cures. Give me a break. Ends don't justify the means!

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    • April 3, 2008 by Sue Wood

      Viktor, I'm confused at how anyone could know what "God's Law" is. We can only aspire to live good lives. I don't know if the doctor in question is good or bad. All I'm saying is let's give him an opportunity to say something. Again, I am worried about your tone. Who are you to determine a death sentence? Who are any of us to do that?? My dear cyber friend, I have lost many loved ones to violent crimes. And I'm grateful for my ability to forgive the terrible act - and pray the person will redeem themself. I lived in Palestine for a year ... and regularly prayed that one terrible act would go un-avenged. Isn't that what a civilized society is about? ~Sue

    • April 8, 2008 by terrance tattrie

      A life for a life was the law in the old testament of the Bible. If you kill someone you seal their fate.I don't believe this man should get the death penalty,I don't think two wrongs make a right. However, I don't think this man should practice medicine.God will deal with him on judgement day.

• April 3, 2008 by Mary Duval

  I'm not sure we should punish this guy for life...it states he plead innocent and was found guilty..if we punish everyone for life then w eall be guiltyof being a speeder in cars, or such. I do think he did his time so he should be able to moveon withlife...my son is very similar and his life is ruined altho he di dnotkill he cannotlocate work due to his charge for consensual sex. http://www.rickyslife.com also to the lady above sorry your fiance was murdered my thoughts are with you

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• April 3, 2008 by Mary Duval

  This doc was found guilty of murder but who is to say he would not be the one to find a cue for cancer? Alzheimers? So because he lied on his application this is why he was kicked out of school? Can he go to another one?

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• April 4, 2008 by Janne Robbins

  Normally I would be of the mind that a person can pay their debt to society and then should be afforded the opportunity to contribute positively. This situation is compounded by the fact that the killing was a 'hate crime.' I would be concerned that his feelings would be reflected in which patients he decided to save or help.

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  • October 28, 2008 by Lisa Racca

    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.

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• April 7, 2008 by terrance tattrie

  He's a murderer and he's dishonest. I don't believe these are great characteristics for a doctor.

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• April 7, 2008 by Dani O'Malley

  I don't really blame him for going by a different name -- it could signify that by choosing a new name he has chosen a new life. But I wonder a few things... Did he legally change his last name, or did he just make one up? Did he choose to be a doctor to "atone" for his past mistakes? And if he still maintains his innocence and he still served the time... Well, I would give him a chance. His past might unfortunately warrant extra observation during school and work, to be sure he doesn't impose his morals on his patients. But I think the choices he seems to have made since this thing in his past would point toward his desire for a better future.

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• April 11, 2008 by Kina Barnum

  All I can say is he's no different than those doctor's that have malpractice suits hanging on their tails. He actually killed someone,served his time and wants to "help" others, while professional doctors walk around with a degree killing people due to neglect and(or) they still practice medicine and may or may not get a slap on the hand. What's really worse the one who killed,served his time and wants to help or the ones who have a degree and kill? I'm not saying that I would trust the killer to operate on me, I question why he choose to be a doctor, I think it's obvious why.

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• April 15, 2008 by Tony

  With the incredibly high number of qualified and deserving applicants to medical school and the relatively small number of available seats at medical schools, couldn't Karolinska Institute find a more deserving student? There are many students who don't come from "privileged" backgrounds and deserve a break in life but never get it! A physician's tools for healing can just as easily be used for sinister purposes and giving a convicted murderer these same tools not only defies logic, but also gives me pause to rethink the wisdom of the Nobel Prize selection process itself. I wonder how thoroughly they investigate the backgrounds of their laureate candidates.

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• April 28, 2008 by Mia

  Its not likely anyone here was a witness to his crime. Forgiveness is what this sorry world lacks. I say he should practice, because he could indeed be the one, and that like any patient, everyone should shoulder up their OWN responsibility to research doctors when having medical attention. Use a doctor at your own discretion because, honestly if I'm in dire need of help and he can do it and is willing to, then who am I to shoot myself in the foot for judging a man i don't even know. Its not highly likely he's going to kill again knowing good and well he's being watched and monitored. Now, unless he killed the guy with a scalpel and pulled some Hannibal Lector stunt....then give the guy a chance to start anew and make amends for the life he allegedly took.

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• June 26, 2008 by Judith A. Eisner

  I would like to know the pure circumstances of this act before making a life decision for this individual.

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• June 30, 2008 by Candace Rodriguez

  This guy had the mental capacity to KILL another person simply because he disagreed with them. What if he comes across a Jewish patient? Will they get the same treatment as a non-Jewish patient from him? He is obviously very passionate when his opinion is involved. He is bound to come across someone who is just as passionate be it a patient or a co-worker. Will he be able to restrain himself?

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