The book traces the history of medical experimentation on Black Americans from the 18th century to the present, highlighting how racial discrimination has influenced the relationship between white physicians and black patients. It covers well-known cases like the Tuskegee Syphilis Study and lesser-known episodes, providing a comprehensive look at the complex intersection of racism and medicine.
This book provides a detailed and engaging narrative of the history of medical experimentation on Black Americans, starting from the mid-18th century. The author, Harriet A. Washington, argues that racial discrimination has significantly shaped the relationship between white physicians and black patients, as well as the general attitude of black patients towards modern medicine. The book is divided into three parts: the first part explores the cultural memory of medical experimentation, the second part examines recent cases of medical abuse and research, and the last part addresses the complex relationship between racism and medicine. While some topics, like the notorious Tuskegee Syphilis Study, are familiar, other episodes are less well-known to the general public. The book offers a comprehensive look at the dark history of medical experimentation and its lasting impact on the African American community.
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This revealing and informative study traces the convoluted history of medical experimentation on Black Americans in the USA since the middle of the eighteenth century.
In an engaging narrative, Harriet A. Washington forcefully argues that diverse forms of racial discrimination have shaped both the relationship between white physicians and black patients and the attitude of the latter towards modern medicine in general.
The book is divided into three parts: the first engages with the cultural memory of medical experimentation; the second examines recent cases of medical abuse and research; while the last addresses the complex relationship between racism and medicine.