US immune to 1940s Sexually Transmitted Disease Testing Lawsuit

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The Obama administration stated on Monday that Guatemalans that were unknowing exposed to sexually transmitted diseases by U.S. researchers during the 1940s will not be able to sue the United States.  They say even though they research was unethical the United States is not responsible.

To test the effects of penicillin many Guatemalans were exposed to STDs.  The people were unaware of the testing.  In a response to the lawsuit the Justice Department say that they have sovereign immunity and that protects federal health officials. 



Barack Obama including others from the Health and Human Services have apologized for the research that was hidden for decades until it was uncovered in 2009.

Guatemalan Officials stated in December of 2009 that they found 2,082 people were involved in these experiments.  The tests were performed from 1946-1948 and subjects were infected with syphilis, gonorrhea, or chancroid.  U.S. officials put the number at a lower 1,308.

The study was used to test how penicillin worked against these infections.  At the time penicillin was a relatively new drug.

Officials have condemned the research and call it "dark chapter of our medical history".

More Articles:

US argues it is immune from STD experiment lawsuit (www.newsobserver.com)
US argues it is immune from STD experiment lawsuit (boston.com)
Guatemala STD report urges future payouts (BBC.com)
U.S. apologizes for Guatemala STD experiments (msnbc.com)