Why do you feel Lucius couldn’t talk to anyone about Horvath?

Why do you feel Lucius couldn’t talk to anyone about Horvath, in spite of an intense desire to do so?

Lucius couldn't talk to anyone about Horvath because he felt so guilty about what happened to him when Lucius didn't comply with the orders. It didn't matter if Horvath was better off staying at the hospital or not, Lucius wasn't following orders.

I thought that Lucius was ashamed that when Horvath was tortured by anbinden and the hideous result of it was really the doctor’s fault and it was his pride that led to it.

I too think that Lucius was ashamed of his part in "trying to play God" with Horvath. The success he had with the treatment he used, in part, lead to his conceit regarding how to treat Horvath and whether to keep him at the hospital. I wonder if things would have ended differently with Margarete if Horvath had been released when he should have been.

Lucas was definitely ashamed and felt guilty about what happened to Horvath. Margarete had commented to him whether he was keeping Horvath at the hospital for Horvath's sake or for Lucius' own sake and his desire to cure Horvath. That decision resulted in horrible consequences for Horvath and I don't think Lucius could forgive himself. He felt responsible.

Lucius had tremendous guilt on his selfishness that caused so much suffering for Horvath. He felt so ashamed of himself and had a terrible time facing it, let alone talk about it to anyone.

He felt guilty and ashamed of his own conviction that he could save Horvath. In retrospect, he was sure he let his own ego get in the way of making the best decision for his patient (Margarete suggested as much) and he was too distressed by that failure to admit it to anyone else. (The end of the book suggests Horvath probably felt the same way.)

I completely agree witheveryone above. Although Lucius had no way of knowing that keeping Horvath for further treatment would result in such horrific events, but he knew that if he had listened to Margrete Horvath would not have suffered as he did. Lucius could not open his faults up to anyone. He did not want to hear the platitudes on be consoled by people who could never really understand all that happened.

All that guilt! Although I think Lucius was well-intended by keeping Horvath close, Horvath was harmed by staying with Lucius. I wonder if Horvath blamed Lucius for what happened?

I think Lucius felt guilty and also like a failure because he did not uphold the Hippocratic oath "first do no harm."

It was a failure and he did not want others to know

The scene of Horvath's torture was an unforgettable tragedy for everyone in Lemnowice especially for Lucius. This was on him. In his mind and as he mentions, he had committed one of the great sins of medicine, choosing to work a miracle over the mundane duty not to harm. Not to mention that Margarete had questioned him this at the moment of this decision. He felt that he had failed this oath, failed a patient and therefore a failure as a doctor. Nobody likes to talk about a failure of this magnitude.

Guilt for putting his own desire to ‘fix’ Horvath and lack of understanding of the ramifications of defying the order to release Horvath. He failed the Hippocratic Oath: First, do no harm.

Who would understand? His parents certainly would not, Lucius's war experience was totally different than his father's and his mother would have no frame of reference for what he experienced. Quite possibly Feuermann would understand but the shame of sharing what happened would have prevented Lucius from talking about it. The only person who would understand would be Margarete and she wasn't to be found.

Paulagb put it very well. He didn't want to be consoled by people with no understanding.