First of all, they used prostitutes to spread the disease! So it's not that bad. I mean, at least the victims got to have some fun getting syphilis. Though not everyone involved was quite so lucky...
"In addition to the penitentiary, the studies took place in an insane asylum and an army barracks," said Susan Reverby, professor of women's studies at Wellesley College in Massachusetts. That must have been a blast for the hookers. Do you think the mental patients had to keep their straight-jackets on while... nevermind...
Okay, so good news: you get free sex! Bad news: You get syphilis...
The U.S. government has issued an official apology:
"The sexually transmitted disease inoculation study conducted from 1946-1948 in Guatemala was clearly unethical... Although these events occurred more than 64 years ago, we are outraged that such reprehensible research could have occurred under the guise of public health. We deeply regret that it happened, and we apologize to all the individuals who were affected by such abhorrent research practices" Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in a statement.
So why did the government do these gentleman the favor of providing them with tainted escorts? So that they could test a cure! Isn't that something? So in the end, everyone infected with syphilis was offered a shot of penicillin. Free! I mean, it's a win/lose/win situation... You get free sex... then syphilis... then penicillin! No harm, no foul, right?
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