Albert Stevens, a house painter with terminal stomach cancer, unknowingly became the recipient of the highest dose of radiation ever recorded in a human on May 14, 1945. This macabre experiment was conducted by scientists at the University of California as part of the Manhattan Project's radiation studies, which were pivotal in the development of the atomic bomb and its use in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Stevens was led to believe he was receiving an injection to alleviate his cancer, but in reality, he was being exposed to an enormous dose of plutonium. The scientists' decision to withhold the truth from Stevens highlights the ethical dilemmas inherent in medical experimentation, especially when the subjects are already suffering from terminal illnesses. This incident raises questions about the boundaries of scientific inquiry and the importance of informed consent, especially in cases where the subjects are vulnerable and already facing dire health outcomes.
The experiment's shocking revelation came when researchers discovered that Stevens had been misdiagnosed. Instead of a malignant tumour, he had an inflamed gastric ulcer, a condition that was previously missed during a previous operation. This led to unnecessary surgeries, including the removal of his spleen, ninth rib, lymph nodes, and parts of his liver and pancreas. The scientists' decision to conceal the truth from Stevens further underscores the ethical implications of their actions. Despite the initial deception, Stevens's story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, as he lived for another 21 years after the experiment, dying of heart disease at the age of 79.
The Manhattan Project's radiation studies involved 17 other unwitting subjects, including Ebb Cade, a construction worker who was injected with plutonium after his leg fractures went untreated for 20 days. Cade's experience, like Stevens', involved invasive procedures, such as the removal of 15 of his teeth to measure plutonium's spread through his body. Another subject was a four-year-old Australian boy, Simeon Shaw, who was flown to the US for supposed bone cancer treatment but was instead used for plutonium testing. These experiments, while contributing to scientific knowledge, also raise concerns about the ethical treatment of human subjects, especially when the subjects are vulnerable and the risks are significant.
The lead scientist behind these tests, Joseph Hamilton, died of leukaemia at the age of 49, a direct result of his exposure to radiation. The release of a report into these radiation experiments in 1995, coinciding with the OJ Simpson verdict, further underscores the lack of public attention these ethical violations received. This historical context serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in scientific research, particularly when human lives are at stake. It also highlights the need for ongoing ethical review and oversight in medical experimentation to ensure that such atrocities are not repeated in the name of scientific progress.
