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J. Marion Sims' Gynecological Experiments



What: J. Marion Sims conducted surgical experiments on enslaved Black women without anesthesia.


When: 1840s


Where: Alabama, USA.


Details: Sims performed experimental surgeries on enslaved women to develop

techniques for repairing vesicovaginal fistulas. These procedures were extremely

painful and were done without anesthesia, based on the belief that Black women

felt less pain than white women.


Why and How It Was Racist: Sims' experiments exploited enslaved women and

were conducted under the racist belief that Black individuals had higher pain tolerance. The perceived inferiority of Black people justified these unethical practices.


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WallL.L.(2006).The medical ethics of Dr J MarionSims: a fresh look at the

historical record. Journal of Medical Ethics, 32(6), 346–350. https://doi.org/10.1136/jme.2005.012559

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