Becker Muscular Dystrophy (BMD) is named after Peter Emil Becker, a neurologist whose voluntary affiliations with Nazi organizations (SA, Nazi Party, NS-Ärztebund) and research at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Anthropology, Human Heredity, and Eugenics (KWI-A) raise serious ethical concerns. Becker admitted to being an opportunist, prioritizing his career over ethics during a regime that persecuted disabled individuals. The medical community has already renamed diseases for similar reasons:

• Wegener’s granulomatosis → GPA 
• Hallervorden-Spatz disease → PKAN/NBIA

BMD and Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) are genetically linked (both caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene). "Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Type 2" is a clinically accurate and ethically sound alternative that:

✅Removes the problematic name origin 

✅ Reflects the disease’s genetic relationship to DMD.

✅ Centers patient dignity and aligns with modern medical ethics.

We call on:

Medical societies to endorse this name change

Patient organizations to support and promote the new proposed name 

Clinicians and researchers to adopt the new name in publications and practice.

Journals to publish articles advocating for this change.

Sign this petition to demand a name that reflects dignity, accuracy, and justice for people with BMD 

Read the full proposal here 

Proposal

Note:

This petition is not about erasing Peter Emil Becker’s scientific contributions but about ensuring medical terminology aligns with ethical standards and patient dignity. The proposed name, ‘DMD Type 2,’ reflects the genetic relationship between Becker and Duchenne MD and removes ties to a problematic legacy