The Guatemala syphilis study, unearthed by medical historian, Susan M. Reverby, is another shocking and sadly familiar example of the abuse of human subjects in research.

Ms. Reverby presented her findings in a webinar titled The Guatemalan Inoculation Study: Susan M. Reverby on Research Ethics and Lessons for HRPPs, which addressed the horrific story of US public health researchers intentionally infecting hundreds of people in Guatemala, including mental patients, with gonorrhea and syphilis without their knowledge.

A professor at Wellesley College who has published two books about the US Public Health Service Syphilis study that took place in Tuskegee, AL, Ms. Reverby shared her findings and insights on what today’s research professionals may learn from this astounding example of immoral research practices that occurred more than 60 years ago.

This webinar covered:

• The story of a research study involving deliberate infection of human subjects with sexually transmitted diseases without permission or consent
• The aspects of this study that distinguish it from other examples of human subjects abuse
• The ways in which this story illustrates the importance and potential weaknesses of our current system of research protections