Trauma and Ethical Infractions: Interrogating Kapinsky in Christiaan Barnard’s the Donor

Abstract

conflict. Psychologist have identified that the human mind is in a constant flux; in a constant state of conflict arising from the mental disagreement caused by his desires to do things which society or the ‘symbolic order’ forbid because they are considered as either anti-social and against the social or cultural norms of the society. Another avenue for conflict to seethe into the psyche is through the hurt caused by some unpleasant experiences in the past. This usually leads to some forms of traumatic experiences for the person having such childhood or adult experiences. The American Psychological Association defined trauma as being the psychological response, of an emotional form, which a person has to an event which his/her psyche interprets and accepts as being extremely negative and which Abstract: At the foundation of all human action are psychic structures, pleasant and unpleasant, that determine the actions of individuals. Trauma is a reality of the psychological content of many and could be suffered by both the perpetrator and victim of traumatising actions. Barnard presents the connection between trauma and professional ethical infraction through the character of Kapinsky in The Donor. The traumatic experiences of Kapinsky are rooted in the fear of the loss of intimacy and the death drive arising from the death of his parents, his helplessness and powerlessness at the moment of the occurrence, the defeat of Adolf Hitler and the German nation and the self-imposed guilt that Kapinsky encumbered himself with. Through the knowledge he gained as a medical doctor with specialty in biomedical research, he flouted ethical principles governing research by creating a half human, half ape in a clandestine move to pour his rage on the world through which he intends to avenge his parents and complete the German project. Dr. Barnes, his research mate also committed ethical infraction occasioned by motivated blindness and their inability of their ‘should’ selves to put their ‘want’ selves in check. This study presents a critical analysis of the work of one of the most important cardiothoracic surgeons and also physician-writer who has literary works have not enjoyed much critical attention.