The Tuskegee syphilis experiment

Many people know something about the Tuskegee syphilis experiment. exposed in July 25, 1972 by the Associated Press. Fifty three years ago.

More than 100 black American men died of untreated syphilis. Most in ignorance of what they had, and some in the belief that they were receiving treatment, when in fact they were receiving placebos. Penicillin was the standard treatment for syphilis at the time -- or starting in 1947 when the study was in full stride. The men involved were not only not told this, in some cases they were actually prevented from receiving such treatment, since their value as human guinea pigs was considered so high.

As I said, most people know this. But today's anniversary, of the leak that got the project closed down at last, is less well known.

Peter Buxton was the key whistleblower. He leaked the information to Jean Heller of the Associated Press.

Just a simple example of how so often the direction of the right thing to do is the direction of transparency.

Buxton, by the way, died a little more than a year ago. His name is not as well known as that of, say, Daniel Ellsberg, but that may change yet in the fullness of time.

That is him in the photo above.

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