The
US Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues concluded their
review of studies conducted in the 1940’s related to sexually transmitted
diseases (STDs). Last year several Guatemalan victims of the studies came
forward and have since brought suit against the United States.
Approximately
5,500 Guatemalans were involved in the research by the US Public Health Service
and nearly 1,300 of the participants were intentionally infected with syphilis,
gonorrhea or other sexually transmitted diseases. Moreover, less than 1,000 of the participants received any treatment for the STDs.
None
of the participants were asked for consent prior to being infected. The study
concluded that even given the different bioethical standards of the time period, the
scientists knew that the studies were well outside of the standard of practice.
President
Obama has since issued an apology to the study victims and to his Guatemalan
counterpart, Alvaro Colom.
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