July 16th, 2024

Peter Buxtun, whistleblower who exposed Tuskegee syphilis study, dies aged 86

Peter Buxtun, the whistleblower behind the end of the Tuskegee syphilis study, died at 86. His actions sparked public outrage, congressional hearings, a settlement, and a presidential apology, emphasizing ethics and whistleblowers' impact.

Read original articleLink Icon
Peter Buxtun, whistleblower who exposed Tuskegee syphilis study, dies aged 86

Peter Buxtun, the whistleblower who exposed the Tuskegee syphilis study, has passed away at the age of 86. Buxtun's actions led to the end of the study in 1972, where federal scientists had observed the untreated progression of syphilis in 400 Black men in Tuskegee, Alabama. Despite facing resistance and criticism from health officials, Buxtun's revelations sparked public outrage, congressional hearings, and a $10 million settlement. His efforts also prompted President Bill Clinton to issue a formal apology in 1997 for the unethical study. Buxtun, born in Prague in 1937, had a diverse background, serving in the US army and working in the federal health service. He continued to advocate for justice and personal freedoms throughout his life, receiving recognition for his role in exposing the study. Buxtun's legacy highlights the importance of ethical considerations in medical research and the impact of whistleblowers in promoting transparency and accountability.

Related

Allan McDonald refused to approve Challenger launch, exposed cover-up (2021)

Allan McDonald refused to approve Challenger launch, exposed cover-up (2021)

Allan McDonald, former NASA contractor director, died at 83. He gained recognition for halting the Challenger launch in 1986 due to safety concerns, later exposing a NASA cover-up. McDonald's ethical leadership left a lasting legacy.

Alzheimer's scientist indicted for allegedly falsifying data in $16M scheme

Alzheimer's scientist indicted for allegedly falsifying data in $16M scheme

An Alzheimer's researcher indicted for falsifying data to secure $16 million in funding. Collaboration with Cassava Sciences on Simufilam treatment. Concerns about research integrity, retractions, FDA inspection, and potential prison time. Cassava acknowledges limited involvement, trials ongoing with 1,800+ patients.

Bruce Bastian, WordPerfect co-creator, has died

Bruce Bastian, WordPerfect co-creator, has died

Bruce Bastian, a tech entrepreneur, LGBTQ+ advocate, and philanthropist, passed away at 76. Known for supporting LGBTQ+ rights, founding the B.W. Bastian Foundation, and serving on the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Arts.

Bruce Bastian, a Founder of WordPerfect, Is Dead at 76

Bruce Bastian, a Founder of WordPerfect, Is Dead at 76

Bruce Bastian, co-founder of WordPerfect Corporation, passed away at 76 in Palm Springs. He co-developed WordPerfect, later became an LGBTQ activist, and left a legacy in technology, LGBTQ advocacy, and philanthropy.

How to Catch a Lab Leak

How to Catch a Lab Leak

A deadly anthrax outbreak in Sverdlovsk, Russia in 1979 was initially blamed on contaminated meat but later revealed as a bioweapons lab leak. Matthew Meselson's investigation confirmed the leak in 1992, emphasizing the importance of scientific inquiries and international collaboration in addressing biosecurity threats.

Link Icon 9 comments
By @anitil - 9 months
For some context on the Tuskegee "experiment" I'd recommend the two-part series from "You're Wrong About" [0] [1]. Buxtun shows up in the second episode. What I hadn't remembered is that it was 6 years from when he first raised his concerns until they were taken seriously.

[0] Part 1 https://open.spotify.com/episode/1CSuf2U9vM5sYru8RwsqFB [1] Part 2 https://open.spotify.com/episode/6GveYHXn6CdkHoGOZTYv0j

Apologies for the spotify links, I couldn't find their hosted version

By @hannob - 9 months
I had learned about this in the Pandemia podcast last year, unfortunately only available in German. But I thought for all the German-speaking HN readers I could share, it's worth listening to: https://superelektrik.de/pandemia/syphilis-geschichte-eines-...

Pandemia is a podcast started during the Covid pandemic, but regularly covering all kinds of diseases and health issues.

By @tokai - 9 months
Wonder why the US thought they needed to continue this experiment when they had access to the results and researchers of Unit 731[0], that did extensive research on syphilis. Kinda makes one think that the racial aspect was the point.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unit_731#American_grant_of_imm...

By @rectang - 9 months
> Buxton himself could be self-effacing about his actions, saying he did not anticipate the vitriolic reaction of some health officials when he started questioning the study’s ethics.

Humans relentlessly believe themselves to be just and righteous. To maintain that self-sense, they will gladly deceive themselves — and often much worse.

By @anal_reactor - 9 months
As non-American, it's a strange feeling to see all these discussions about racism. It took me a while to understand that the whole perception of the issue is just completely different.