Pharmaceutical Experiments at Holmesburg Prison
1. Beginning in the 1950s, Holmesburg Prison was the location of extensive biomedical testing and experimentation by companies like Johnson & Johnson and Dow Chemical. Dr. Albert M. Kligman, a dermatologist from the University of Pennsylvania, was the architect of the research program. Looking back at when he first visited the prison Kligman recalls, “All I saw before me were acres of skin. It was like a farmer seeing a fertile field for the first time” (Hornblum, "Acres of Skin" xx).
2. From 1962 to 1966, it was believed that 33 pharmaceutical companies tested upwards to 153 experimental drugs at this prison, including Retin-A, an important vitamin currently used to treat acne. Dr. Kligman conducted one particular experiment from 1965 – 1966, which exposed 75 prisoners to lethal doses of dioxin, a poisonous chemical. In exchange for this, he received $10,000 from the Dow Chemical Company. Prisoners who participated in these dermatological experiments experienced scars, blisters, cysts, and ongoing rashes following (Reiter). 3. In exchange for being part of the experiments, prisoners were provided compensation of around $40 - $50 per month. a. One prisoner, al Zabala who took part in the research program states, “My first jail job was as a goon in OBS [the Psychological Observation Unit]. I put straightjackets on the patients in Holmesburg’s psych unit. I soon heard about the U of P studies and the good pay they offered. They had all kinds of tests—foot power tests, eye drop tests, face creams, underarms deodorant, toothpaste, liquid diet. It was easy money. You could make $10 to $300 a test depending on how long it lasted” (Hornblum, "Acres of Skin" 5). |
1. It was clear that it was the inducements via financial benefits gained from working with the psychological department in the prison that entice al Zabala to participate in their experiments. He says, “Three or four tests at a time could mean real easy money. Foot powder tests and deodorants would bring you $100 per month. You could be making $300 to $400 a month” (Hornblum, "Acres of Skin" 5).
2. Through Allen Hornblum’s research about these experiments, he reached a similar conclusion of al Zabala that the majority of Holmesburg Prison inmates took part in the experiments due to the financial benefits that could be gained. He writes, “The biggest reason guys went into the [research program] was that drug tests were the best-paying jobs. Prisons [labor] didn’t pay and here was easy money. Guys had no source of money, independent of what the prison system offered” (Hornblum, "Acres of Skin" 26). 3. With the majority of the inmates reasoning for participation contingent on the financial gain, it is hard for one to argue against the fact that they were unduly induced. Due to the dire financial situation of those imprisoned, this research program took advantage of it and created an inducement that would attract this vulnerable population. Additionally, unlike the, Malaria study at Stateville, this research program did not provide its participants with an informed consent form. In an interview with Hornblum, an inmate says, “Almost all inmates agree, however, that those who did succumb to the doctor’s overtures had very little idea, if any, of what ingredient, solution, chemical, or drug they were actually testing. Most important, the majority of men claim to have never heard the words, ‘informed consent’ (Hornblum, "Acres of Skin" 26). After decades of experimentation, all medical testing ended in 1974. |