10. Infecting Puerto Rico With Cancer
Dr. Cornelius Rhoads, who graduated from Harvard University with a degree in pathology, had an esteemed career with the United States government. He established the US Army Biological Warfare facilities in Panama, Utah, and Maryland so that the government could work on developing chemical weapons. Later, he was named to the US Atomic Energy Commission to study the effects of radiation.
If the sound of a government-appointed doctor conducting radiation experiments sounds a bit shady, there’s a reason why. Before Rhoads rose through the ranks, in 1931, he performed a horrible medical test in Puerto Rico in which he intentionally infected people with cancer cells. At least 13 people died as a result of his experiment.
What’s even more shocking, though, is the confession he wrote about his research, which mimics the horrible work done by German, Italian, and Japanese “doctors” during World War II: “The Porto Ricans (sic) are the dirtiest, laziest, most degenerate and thievish race of men ever to inhabit this sphere… I have done my best to further the process of extermination by killing off eight and transplanting cancer into several more… All physicians take delight in the abuse and torture of the unfortunate subjects.”
In 1979, the American Association for Cancer Research began issuing the Cornelius Rhoads prize for exceptional research. In 2003, the issuance of that medal was rescinded.
Also Read: Evil Doctors and Scientists From World War II.