Subjected to Science: Human Experimentation in America before the Second World War

by Susan E. Lederer Narrated by Lisa S. Ware

Overview

The first full-length history of biomedical research with human subjects in the period "before Tuskegee"-from 1890 to 1940



Long before the U.S. government began conducting secret radiation and germ-warfare experiments, and long before the Tuskegee syphilis experiments, medical professionals had introduced-and hotly debated the ethics of-the use of human subjects in medical experiments. In Subjected to Science, Susan Lederer provides the first full-length history of biomedical research with human subjects in the earlier period, from 1890 to 1940.



Lederer offers detailed accounts of experiments-benign and otherwise-conducted on both healthy and unhealthy men, women, and children, including the yellow fever experiments (which ultimately became the subject of a Broadway play and Hollywood film), Udo Wile's "dental drill" experiments on insane patients, and Hideyo Noguchi's syphilis experiments, which involved injecting a number of healthy children and adults with the syphilis germ, luetin.

Editorial Reviews

Booknews

Lederer (humanities, Pennsylvania State U.) draws on published reports, unpublished correspondence, the popular press, and antivivesection materials to reveal the biomedical research conducted in the US on healthy and unhealthy men, women, and children from 1890 to 1940. She uses the accounts as background for discussions of such issues as patient consent, self- experimentation, the authority of orthodox medicine, and the ethics of experimentation on humans. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

From the Publisher

Lederer's writing is crisp and clear, her historical documentation is exhaustive, and her social commentary persuasive. This book is an important addition to the growing literature on the history of human experimentation and medical research.
—New England Journal of Medicine

Essential reading for anyone concerned with clinical research public policy and attitudes.
—Norman M. Goldfarb, Journal of Clinical Research Best Practices

Subjected to Science is essential reading for anyone concerned with clinical research public policy and attitudes.
—Journal of Clinical Research Best Practices

Journal of Clinical Research Best Practices

Subjected to Science is essential reading for anyone concerned with clinical research public policy and attitudes.

New England Journal of Medicine

Lederer's writing is crisp and clear, her historical documentation is exhaustive, and her social commentary persuasive. This book is an important addition to the growing literature on the history of human experimentation and medical research.

Journal of Clinical Research Best Practices - Norman M. Goldfarb

Essential reading for anyone concerned with clinical research public policy and attitudes.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940191719078
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Publication date:	04/16/2024
Edition description:	Unabridged

Videos