A group of doctors in Germany has taken an unconventional approach to highlight the critical shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) amidst the ongoing health crisis: they posed nude. This bold action, dubbed Blanke Bedenken, which translates to “Naked Qualms,” is a desperate cry for attention from healthcare professionals feeling exposed and unprotected. These Doctors Nude protest aims to underscore their vulnerability and the inadequacy of the support they have received.
The movement, Blanke Bedenken, represents the deep-seated frustrations of German doctors who claim their repeated appeals for adequate PPE have been ignored for months. Dr. Ruben Bernau, a general practitioner involved in the protest, explained to Ärztezeitung that his practice team is ill-equipped to handle the current health challenges. “The nudity is a symbol of how vulnerable we are without protection,” he stated, emphasizing the core message of their doctors nude demonstration.
These healthcare professionals staged their protest within the confines of their own practices, strategically using everyday objects like files, toilet rolls, medical equipment, and prescription pads to partially conceal themselves. This visual metaphor poignantly illustrates their feeling of being stripped bare and left to fend for themselves without essential protective gear.
The inspiration for this German doctors nude protest originated from a similar act of defiance by a French doctor, Alain Colombié. Colombié, photographed naked in his practice, had previously described himself and his colleagues as “cannon fodder” in the fight against the pandemic. Christian Rechtenwald, a German GP also participating in Blanke Bedenken, acknowledged Colombié’s action as the direct inspiration for their own protest.
Dr. Jana Husemann, another GP involved, articulated the practical implications of the PPE shortage. “Of course we want to continue treating patients who still need to receive a close examination.” She emphasized that providing necessary medical care necessitates proper PPE to ensure the safety of both doctors and patients. Another doctor poignantly questioned the situation, stating, “I was trained to sew up wounds. Why am I now having to sew my own face mask?” This statement encapsulates the absurdity of healthcare professionals being forced to improvise basic protective equipment.
The plea for more PPE from German doctors is not new. Since the onset of the health crisis in Germany in late January, medical professionals have consistently voiced their concerns. German manufacturers of protective clothing have increased their production, but they have been unable to keep pace with the surging demand. Medical practices, hospitals, and care facilities have reported persistent shortages of essential items like filter masks, goggles, gloves, and aprons, indicating that their needs are far from being adequately met.
Adding to the crisis, reports have emerged of widespread theft of disinfectants and masks from hospitals, attributed to organized criminal groups, forcing many hospitals to enhance their security measures. A study conducted by a German health insurers association revealed the staggering scale of the shortages: doctors lacked over 100 million single-use masks, nearly 50 million filter masks, more than 60 million single-use aprons, and a similar quantity of disposable gloves. The demand for PPE also varies significantly across regions, with North Rhine Westphalia and Bavaria experiencing the most acute needs.
Marc-Pierre Möll, the CEO of the German Medical Technology Association, has urged the government to facilitate a structured expansion of domestic PPE production. He argued that with political will and guaranteed procurement at fair prices, overcoming these supply difficulties is entirely feasible. In response, the German government has announced plans to centralize the procurement of PPE.
The Blanke Bedenken group has been actively using social media to amplify their message. On their Twitter feed, @BlankeBedenken, they pointed out the contradiction between Germany’s claim of being well-prepared for the health crisis and the stark reality of PPE scarcity. Despite facing insufficient protection, these doctors and their teams across Germany remain committed to providing care, highlighting their dedication even in the face of vulnerability. The doctors nude protest serves as a powerful symbol of their precarious situation and a call for urgent action to address the PPE shortage.
