The number of victims of experimental infection with syphilis in Guatemala can reach 2500 people
Last reviewed: 16.10.2021
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The number of victims of the medical experiment, during which Guatemalans deliberately infect syphilis and gonorrhea, can reach 2.5 thousand people. This conclusion, according to the BBC, came to the Guatemalan Medical Association, which conducts its own investigation of the circumstances of the study, which was conducted in the late 40-ies of the last century.
On August 30, preliminary results of the investigation of the Guatemalan study were published by a commission created on the initiative of US President Barack Obama. According to her, about 1,300 Guatemalans - prisoners, mentally ill, prostitutes, or servicemen - were involved in the experiment.
Members of the US commission also concluded that the study was conducted with the grossest violations of both ethical and scientific principles. In particular, its results were never published and did not have any impact on the development of medicine and pharmacology.
The results of the investigation, conducted by Guatemalans in parallel with the American experts, indicate that the organizers of the study relied on the large-scale support of the Guatemalan authorities.
According to one member of the Guatemalan Commission, Carlos Mejia, at least nine Guatemalan doctors participated in the experiments. Eight of them have by now died, the location of the ninth, whose age should now be more than 90 years, has not yet been established.