Human Medical Experimentation - (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Intended for students and general readers alike, this encyclopedia covers the history of human medical experimentation, for better and worse, from the time of Hippocrates to the present.

Thanks to medical experiments performed on human subjects, we now have vaccines against smallpox, rabies, and polio. Yet the advances that saved lives too often involved the exploitation of vulnerable populations. Covering the history of human medical experimentation from the time of Hippocrates to today, this work will introduce readers to the topic through a mixture of essays and ready-reference materials. The book covers the experiments themselves; the people, companies, and government agencies that carried them out; the relevant medical and sociopolitical background; and the legislation and other protective measures that arose as a result.

The encyclopedia is divided chronologically into 6 periods: pre-19th century, the 19th century, the pre-World War II 20th century, the World War II era, the Cold War era, and the post-Cold War period to recent times. Each period begins with an introductory essay and ends with a bibliography. Alphabetically arranged entries in each section cover pertinent people, experiments, and topics. The volume is enriched throughout with a wealth of primary sources, such as physicians' descriptions of their experiments. Medical experiments are not just a thing of the past, and readers will also learn about questions and debates related to contemporary efforts to advance medical science.

Review Quotes

An interesting book on medical experimentation from pre-nineteenth century to the present. . . . The primary sources that the editor chose will be useful to researchers. . . This will be a useful addition to college and university libraries that have programs that require students to use original source material.
Booklist

Indeed, while intended as a reference book and jumping-off point for researchers interested in exploring the subject of human medical experimentation, this title makes for fascinating reading for laypeople as well. VERDICT For most public and academic libraries.
Library Journal

The book offers a comprehensive index system, scholarly contributions, and essential historical perspectives and summaries. . . . This captivating volume is recommended for public and academic libraries.
ARBAonline

About the Author

Frances R. Frankenburg, MD, is professor of psychiatry at the Boston University School of Medicine and chief of inpatient psychiatry at the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital in Bedford, MA.