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The Holmesburg Prison Experiments 

Dr. Kligman conducted dermatological experiments on prisoners, testing products like Retin-A and exposing inmates to harmful substances, including dioxin, without their informed consent.

The Holmesburg Prison Experiments 

What: Dermatologist Dr. Albert Kligman conducted experiments on mostly Black inmates at Holmesburg Prison. 

When: 1951-1974. 

Where: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. 

Details: Dr. Kligman conducted dermatological experiments on prisoners, testing products like Retin-A and exposing inmates to harmful substances, including dioxin, without their informed consent. The experiments were often conducted under harsh conditions, with little regard for the inmates' health or safety. 

Why and How It Was Racist: The majority of the inmates subjected to these experiments were Black, reflecting systemic racial exploitation in medical research. The inmates were seen as expendable and were not given the opportunity to provide informed consent. 

Sources: 

Websites
Conde, X. (2022, October 6). Philadelphia issues apology for Holmesburg Prison Experiments. https://www.inquirer.com. https://www.inquirer.com/politics/philadelphia/philadelphia-apology-holmesburg-prison-experiment-albert-kligman-20221006.html

Hornblum. (1998). NCJRS Virtual Library. Acres of Skin: Human Experiments at Holmesburg Prison | Office of Justice Programs. https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/acres-skin-human-experiments-holmesburg-prison

Sarai, T. (2023, May 16). Holmesburg Prison’s medical experiments are Philadelphia’s “Lasting shame.” Prism. https://prismreports.org/2023/05/15/philadelphia-holmesburg-prison-experiments/

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Baltimore, MD 21218

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