标题:美国这个城市道歉了:曾在监狱中进行不道德医学实验!
当地时间6日,美国费城市政府就上世纪在一所监狱里进行的不道德医学实验正式道歉,这些实验的对象绝大部分是非洲裔男性。
据费城市政府发表的道歉声明,上世纪50年代至70年代,费城霍姆斯伯格监狱的囚犯被故意暴露于药品、病毒、霉菌、石棉、甚至二噁英之中。接受这些实验的囚犯绝大多数是非洲裔,许多人是文盲,他们在监狱里等待起诉,试图攒钱保释。
The U.S. city of Philadelphia issued a formal apology on Thursday for experiments conducted on African American inmates at a prison decades ago.
From the 1950s to the 1970s, inmates were intentionally exposed to pharmaceuticals, viruses, fungus, asbestos, and even dioxin. The vast majority of those subjected to this wide range of experimentation were black men, many of them illiterate, awaiting prosecution and attempting to save enough money to make bail.
声明说,这是美国历史上对有色人种进行不光彩和不道德医学实验的又一悲剧案例。
"This is yet another tragic example of disgraceful and unethical practices of medical experimentation on people of color throughout our country's history," the city said.
CNN报道称,长期以来,美国的非洲裔人群都有遭受医疗渎职事故及不道德医学实验的历史,这些导致了非洲裔社区内部对于美国医疗体系的广泛不信任。
The United States has a long history of medical malpractice and unethical experiments against black citizens, which has led to widespread medical mistrust within the community.
费城市政府的举动,也旨在化解这种不信任感。
费城市长吉姆·肯尼在声明中表示,虽然发生在数十年前,但这种医学种族主义实践造成的历史影响和创伤已经持续了几代,直至今日,必须反思过去的罪行(rectify historic wrongs)。
In the city’s statement Thursday, Mayor Jim Kenney said that “while this happened many decades ago, we know that the historical impact and trauma of this practice of medical racism has extended for generations – all the way through the present day.”
“没有任何借口,我们正式向那些遭受非人道和可怕虐待的人致以真诚的道歉。”
“Without excuse, we formally and officially extend a sincere apology to those who were subjected to this inhumane and horrific abuse.”
据报道,这些实验由宾夕法尼亚大学研究者阿尔伯特·克利格曼进行,涉及皮肤病、生物化学和制药研究,许多囚犯因为这些实验留下终身疤痕和健康问题。
The city allowed University of Pennsylvania researcher Dr. Albert Kligman to conduct the dermatological, biochemical and pharmaceutical experiments. Many of the former inmates would have lifelong scars and health issues from the experiments.
克利格曼于2010年过世。宾夕法尼亚大学去年发表道歉声明,并将克利格曼的名字从该校一些名誉称号中去除。
Kligman died in 2010. Last year, the University of Pennsylvania issued a formal apology and took Kligman's name off some honorifics like an annual lecture series and professorship.
背景阅读:
另据美国疾控中心资料显示,美国联邦政府公共卫生部门1932年开始在亚拉巴马州与塔斯基吉学院合作,招募数百名非洲裔美国人作为实验对象研究梅毒及其对人体的危害,却没有妥善医治实验对象。这项实验持续了40年,其中一些患者“被拒绝给予适当的治疗”。
In 1932, the United States Public Health Service, working with the Tuskegee Institute, began a study to record the natural history of syphilis.
The federal government had let hundreds of black men in rural Alabama go untreated for syphilis for 40 years for research purposes. During a 40-year federal experiment, a group of syphilis victims was denied proper medical treatment for their disease.
美国疾控中心的资料显示,当时研究人员对这些人群表示,他们的“坏血”病症将得到治疗。当地人把梅毒、贫血、疲劳等都形容为“坏血”。而这些参加实验的非洲裔人群,得到联邦政府的免费医学检查、饮食及丧葬保险等。
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 exchange for taking part in the study, the men received free medical exams, free meals, and burial insurance.
40年后的1972年,这项实验才被叫停。1997年,白宫发表了时任总统克林顿的总统道歉书。
In November 1972, the Assistant Secretary for Health and Scientific Affairs announced the end of the study. On May 16, 1997, US President Bill Clinton issued a formal Presidential Apology for the study.
综合来源:新华网,CNN,美联社,美国疾控中心网站