Tuskegee, Alabama

In 1932, the U.S. Public Health Service, working with the Tuskegee Institute, began a study to record the natural history of syphilis.

The study initially involved 600 Black men – 399 with syphilis, 201 who did not have the disease.

Researchers told the men they were being treated for “bad blood,” a local term used to describe several ailments, including syphilis, anemia, and fatigue.

In exchange for taking part in the study, the men received free medical exams, free meals, and burial insurance.

In 1975, participants’ wives, widows and children were added to the program.

Submitting voluntarily is not informed consent.

There is no evidence that informed consent was gained from the human participants in this study.

We know now, where we could only surmise before, that we have contributed to their ailments and shortened their lives.

At the time of this study there were only seven patients whose primary cause of death was ascribed to syphilis .

U.S. government researchers observed the progress of their infections

Subjects in Guatemala were deliberately exposed to infections

Only blacks were given notices and only black males subsequently participated in the program.

No whites were selected to participate in the study.

Local doctors were asked to withhold treatment from the men, although the extent of their compliance is uncertain.