Re: HUMAN RADIATION EXPERIMENTS

[jacobus%nihrsb.dnet@dxi.nih.gov]

Franz, regarding the HUMAN RADIATION EXPERIMENTS

you wrote:
>
...............  In the misguided premise, "the end justifies any 
>means" may lie real evil.  ....................

>I agree with this simple sentence. I have been really surprised and shocked
>that ........

I am surprised that you are shocked.  The issue of "ends justifies the means"
is not new, and, unfortunitely, easy to justify in some cases.  In war, old
men often send young men off to die for their country and society.  For a
noble cause, many have laid down their lives.

I still think that we must keep perspective.  
   (1) These events occurred in a different time.  (Hindsight always 
provides a clearer view of events)  
   (2) Physicians were "god-like".  (By the way, when was the last time 
you asked your doctor whether of not his prescription was the best).
   (3) In many countries, including the U.S., Germany, Austria, etc., I am
believe that the citizens put a certain amount of trust, either right or
wrong, in their leaders.

I feel that problem here is the human radiation experiments is the preception
of some sense of evil that the government knew about, and that the patients 
were taken advantage of.  Again, part of the problem is the secrecy, real 
or preceived.  (Some of the material, not all, was in the medical and 
scientific literature for decades.)  Maybe if the patients had received a
certificate or award, there would have been some tangible reward for the
patients and/or their families.  

John Jacobus
john_jacbous@nih.gov