Evan Yieh
May 25, 2010
Ms. McCarron
 By definition, human experimentation is the use of
human beings as experimental subjects.
 Experiments can range from psychological testing to
physiological testing.
 Evidence of human experimentation can be found as
far back as Ancient Roman times.
 Modern human experimentation began with those
carried out in concentration camps.
 Tests included high altitude, freezing temperature,
and sea water experimentation.
 Experiments carried under the direction of Dr. Eduard
Wirths and Dr. Josef Mengele, “The Angel Of Death.”
Dr. Josef Mengele
http://lesstewart.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/josef-mengele-1935.jpg
 Tested the limits of human endurance and existence at




high altitudes without oxygen.
Designed to mimic the conditions in which German
pilots faced in combat.
Victim would be locked in an airtight, low-pressure
chamber.
Pressure would be set up to 68,000 feet.
Many died as a result of the drastic change in
pressures.
All images found at: https://owlspace-ccm.rice.edu/access/content/user/ecy1/Nazi%20Human%20Experimentation/Pages/High%20alt.html
 Tested ways to treat those who have been exposed to




extremely low temperatures.
Simulated conditions German pilots would face if they
had crashed at sea and conditions in which German
soldiers might face.
Also tested ways of re-warming surviving German
soldiers.
Used large cold water freezing tubs and large amounts
of ice to bring water to 0 degrees C in order to
effectively freeze the subjects.
Subjects were subject to many different variables.
https://owlspace-ccm.rice.edu/access/content/user/ecy1/Nazi%20Human%20Experimentation/Pages/Freezing%20temp.html
 Tested different ways of desalinizing water.
 44 experimental test groups split up into 4 different
groups: no water, sea water, sea water processed by the
Berka method, and sea water without salt.
 Subjects who received any type of sea water
experienced excruciating torture, diarrhea,
convulsions, hallucinations, foaming at the mouth,
and madness or death.
 Subjects often received no food.
https://owlspace-ccm.rice.edu/access/content/user/ecy1/Nazi%20Human%20Experimentation/Pages/Sea%20Water.html
A gypsy forcibly given a sea water injection.
Other Famous Human Experiments
 “The Monster Study” – Stuttering experiment on
orphan children.
 Stanford Prison Experiment - Psychological study of
human responses to captivity and its behavioral effects
on the inmates and the authorities.
 Project MKULTRA – Mind control experiment by the
CIA.
Images found at: http://listverse.com/2008/03/14/top-10-evil-human-experiments/
The Benefits of Human Experimentation
 Finding potential cures to diseases and disorders.
 See the effects of potential medications and
treatments on humans directly, instead of relying on
mice.
 Determine the endurance of humans in extreme
conditions.
 How people react to certain stimuli.
The Negatives of Human Experimentation
 Experiments are often sadistic in nature.
 Many subjects are not informed of the nature of the
tests.
 Under privileged families are often targeted for human
experiments.
 Deaths are often a result of these experiments.
http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/rmc/lowres/rmcn70l.jpg
Human Experimentation is Essential
 Although the subject of human experimentation is
controversial, it is essential in finding future
treatments to diseases as well as investigate how
humans react to certain stimuli.
 Will yield more accurate results than lab animals.
 Subjects must be well informed of the nature of the
tests.
Sources

Nazi Human Experimentation:

https://owlspace-ccm.rice.edu/access/content/user/ecy1/Nazi%20Human%20Experimentation/Pages/Home.html

Miscellaneous sources:

http://listverse.com/2008/03/14/top-10-evil-human-experiments/

http://www.law.virginia.edu/html/news/2008_spr/milstein.htm

http://www.naturalnews.com/019189_human_medical_experimentation_ethics.html

http://www.faqs.org/health/topics/36/Human-experimentation.html