Unethical medical treatment and research in US territories

ABSTRACT

In 1898, the Treaty of Paris agreement concluding the Spanish-American War gave the US rights to claim and colonize Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and Guam. Along with the many consequences of such colonization came reports of significant harm to the native populations in healthcare and medical research by the occupying forces. Reports about unethical medical treatment and research on Puerto Ricans and Filipinos have existed but are often ignored, yet they include experiments and treatment with Total Body Irradiation (TBI), research on oral contraception leading (for some) to sterilization, and careless use of contaminated vaccines on humans. Researchers failed to protect their subjects; shining a light on these unethical cases could help to further the process of moral reckoning with past abuses, encourage political reforms improving health and welfare, and promote higher ethical standards in healthcare and research on those with diminished autonomy/self-determination.

KEYWORDS:

• Ethics
• Puerto Rico
• Philippine
• Abuse
• Research
• Treatment

Note

The search of the National Archives for related documents was limited to the civilian component and not the military section of the archives.

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank the staff of the University of Maryland Baltimore – Health Science Library, especially Reference Librarian Katherine Downton, and Historical Librarian Tara Wink for their valuable assistance. Also, thanks to the staff of the National Archives – College Park, and staff of the National Library of Medicine.

I also want to thank Bonnie Bricker for her comments and edits were highly appreciated.

Disclosure statement

The author has no conflict of interest to declare.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.