Frances Ames quotes

Frances Ames was a South African neurologist, psychiatrist, and human rights activist. Her leadership in the medical ethics inquiry into the death of anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko played a crucial role in challenging apartheid-era abuses. She championed medical integrity and justice, making a lasting impact on ethics in medicine. Here are 3 of her quotes:

I think submission to authority and absolving oneself from blame by saying that one has to obey orders are widespread...I think all medical students should be taught about the research on submissiveness being a key etiological factor in the perpetuation of atrocities. They should be fully familiar with Milgram's work and reflect on Hannah Arendt's concept of the 'banality of evil.

Frances Ames

All individuals are imperfect and forgetful and find it difficult to transcend immediate self-interest. Historically therefore it has been deemed essential to create constitutional bodies that uphold and insist on adherence to certain ethical standards...If all these medical ethical bodies are to gain the respect of the public they should remain alert to intervene whenever these standards are threatened.

Frances Ames