Hanford Conducted Human Experiments (Spokesman-Review)

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Spokane, WA Al ’ in radiation testing in past 25’years cluding one performed on testicles of Washington prison inmates -was overseen by Henford nuclear officials in the past 25 years, according to documents released The U.S. Department of Ener made the’documents available 3.ter a request from a member of a fects of Hanford Nuclear ReservaIn one experiment performed from .1963-1973, 64 inmates at the Washington State Penitentiary YOlunteered to have their testicles Xrayed. They later underwent vasectomies to prevent them from conceivin damaged children. Tests afso were conducted on 67 prisoners at the Oregon State Prison between August 1963 and May In a 1958 test, a woman in an unidentified city was given a dose of radioactive Carbon-14 during her 1 10th week of pregnancy. Atcording to the documents, she was given an abortion six days, later because the ’ fetus had sickle-cell anemia. Eight people were aid to submit to radiation doses at fhe University of Washington Hospital in 1965 and : charge, the focuments sa None of the test particgants was The tests were supervlsed by Hanford under the jurisdiction of the DOE or its predecessor, the Atomic Energy Commission. “We’re not talking about human experimentation the way I think some people would characterize it ceptable. 1 think it‘s pretty devas: * wood said. “It rings of that t pe of ized. human radiation studies as’ 1 These were all tests done to activity in my mind. I wouldlview “much more wides read than per-. , determine the effects of radiation this as a very serious matter.” ha s you understang” ,and people were Informed what Attwood said experiments have h e acknowledged such human ‘ was going on.” ‘ I been conducted before on prisonen tests, done on site and elsewhere, ’ The p u r r .apparent1 was to to find cures for diseases, but radi- no longer are done at DOE. He said , develop sa ety standards for nucle- ation is more dangerous because of he didn’t know why they were for cancer. “When you’re using an unknown Lawrence said Hanford “providAsked if the tests were a good agent, such as radiation, it can be ed the overall management and have to ask the medical community been done in the ast, but it has were tests requested by Washington. that.” been condemned gy the medical (D.C.).” Dr. Wayne Attwood of Spokane, community. Details of the experiments were, local president of Physicians for “The whole concept of human ex- provided to Congress in 1984, h e Social Responsibility, compared perimentation has been viewed added. , the experiments to those conducted with concern, and considered unac- (See Experlments on page 8) . ar workers and to help find cures its possible long-term effects. stopped. . . .