Summary Points: http://www.cdc.gov/nchstp/od/tuskegee/time.htm
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health/may97/tuskegee_5-16a.html
The study involved 600 black men--399 with syphilis and 201 who did not have the disease. Researchers told the men they were being treated for "bad blood," a local term used to describe several ailments, including syphilis, anemia, and fatigue. In truth, they did not receive the proper treatment needed to cure their illness. In exchange for taking part in the study, the men received free medical exams, free meals, and burial insurance. Although originally projected to last 6 months, the study actually went on for 40 years.
Did these men have syphilis before they volunteered for the experiment, or did that--were they injected with syphilis
by the government, as many people believe?
Many African Americans believe that AIDS is a form of genocide, and their fear and suspicion of the health care
delivery system is directly related to the history of the Tuskegee legacy.