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

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.