The US city of Philadelphia issued an apology last week for the unethical medical experiments performed on mostly black inmates at its Holmesburg Prison from the 1950s through to the 1970s, many of whom would have lifelong scars and health issues from the experiments.
The move comes after community activists and families of some of those inmates raised the need for a formal apology, and also follows a string of apologies from various US cities over historically racist policies or wrongdoing.
AP reports that Philadelphia allowed University of Pennsylvania researcher Dr Albert Kligman to conduct the dermatological, biochemical and pharmaceutical experiments that intentionally exposed about 300 inmates to viruses, fungus, asbestos and chemical agents including dioxin – a component of Agent Orange. Most of Kligman’s experiments were performed on black men, many of whom were awaiting trial and trying to save money for bail, and many of whom were illiterate, the city said.
Kligman, who would go on to pioneer the acne and wrinkle treatment Retin-A, died in 2010. A number of the former inmates would have lifelong scars and health issues from the experiments, and although a group of them filed a lawsuit against the university and Kligman in 2000, it was ultimately thrown out because of a statute of limitations.
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said in the apology that the experiments exploited a vulnerable population and the impact of that medical racism has extended for generations.
“Without excuse, we formally and officially extend a sincere apology to those who were subjected to this inhumane and horrific abuse. We are also sorry it took far too long to hear these words,” he wrote.
Last year, the University of Pennsylvania issued a formal apology and took Kligman’s name off some honorifics like an annual lecture series and professorship. The university also directed research funds to fellows focused on dermatological issues in people of colour.
AP article – Philadelphia apologizes for experiments on Black inmates (Open access)
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