Posted on Jul 11, 2015
Does it surprise you to learn that troops were used for human experiments?
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Veterans used as test subjects for chemical and biological tests during the Cold War won a small victory in court recently when appellate judges ruled the Army must keep them apprised of developments related to their health.
In its June 30 decision, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals also said the Army, not the Veterans Affairs Department, should provide medical care to those vets.
The ruling came on a class-action lawsuit filed by Vietnam Veterans of America, Swords to Plowshares and individual veterans over medical care for troops who participated in research programs at Edgewood Arsenal and Fort Detrick, Maryland, from the early 1950s through the mid-1970s.
The judges ruled the Army is obligated to provide the vets updated information on issues pertaining to their health. They also rejected a district court's earlier argument that even though the Army should have furnished medical care for the veterans under its own regulations, it didn't have to to because the VA provides care to some of the affected personnel.
The judges sent the case back to the Northern California District Court Judge Claudia Wilken to reconsider.
"The district court could not ... categorically deny injunctive relief to former volunteer subjects seeking necessary medical care because some former subjects may be entitled to receive medical care from another government agency," the judges wrote.
Nearly 7,000 troops took part in chemical research programs at Edgewood from 1950 to 1975 and in biological research at Fort Detrick from 1946 to 1977, testing substances such as mescaline, ketamine, LSD, and nerve agents like sarin.
In earlier eras, World War I and World War II troops numbering in the tens of thousands were used for human experiments to test chemicals and protective equipment, exposes to mustard gas and "Lewisite," a blister agent with bodily consequences similar to mustard gas.
http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/benefits/health-care/2015/07/11/court-finds-in-favor-of-veterans-used-in-secret-experiments/29873199/
In its June 30 decision, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals also said the Army, not the Veterans Affairs Department, should provide medical care to those vets.
The ruling came on a class-action lawsuit filed by Vietnam Veterans of America, Swords to Plowshares and individual veterans over medical care for troops who participated in research programs at Edgewood Arsenal and Fort Detrick, Maryland, from the early 1950s through the mid-1970s.
The judges ruled the Army is obligated to provide the vets updated information on issues pertaining to their health. They also rejected a district court's earlier argument that even though the Army should have furnished medical care for the veterans under its own regulations, it didn't have to to because the VA provides care to some of the affected personnel.
The judges sent the case back to the Northern California District Court Judge Claudia Wilken to reconsider.
"The district court could not ... categorically deny injunctive relief to former volunteer subjects seeking necessary medical care because some former subjects may be entitled to receive medical care from another government agency," the judges wrote.
Nearly 7,000 troops took part in chemical research programs at Edgewood from 1950 to 1975 and in biological research at Fort Detrick from 1946 to 1977, testing substances such as mescaline, ketamine, LSD, and nerve agents like sarin.
In earlier eras, World War I and World War II troops numbering in the tens of thousands were used for human experiments to test chemicals and protective equipment, exposes to mustard gas and "Lewisite," a blister agent with bodily consequences similar to mustard gas.
http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/benefits/health-care/2015/07/11/court-finds-in-favor-of-veterans-used-in-secret-experiments/29873199/
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Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 9
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Not surprised at all. But in the end the Army should pony up and take care of the vets health, or pay for the VA to take care of it. And I don't think it's been limited to just the cold war. Do we really know?
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CPT Pedro Meza
SGM Mikel Dawson, in your picture it looks like you are in a cage, ever wonder about all your shots and the pills we had to take daily?
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SGM Mikel Dawson
CPT Pedro Meza - Well I never thought of a cage, it's the front seat of a HUMMER. Oh, yea, I wonder about all the pills we were given and how they chemically react. That's why my statement about not just the cold war.
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Not at all.
It was during the great "fear" war and fear makes us do crazy things.
It was during the great "fear" war and fear makes us do crazy things.
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Were there not enough incarcerated felons to use as test subjects? Why use our necessary brave and strong young men to undergo experiments? And most definitely the Army should be held responsible and accountable to those men and their families.
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