In 1898, the Treaty of Paris agreement concluding the Spanish-American War gave the US rights to claim and colonize Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and Guam. Along with the many consequences of such colonization came reports of significant harm to the native populations in healthcare and medical research by the occupying forces. Reports about unethical medical treatment and research on Puerto Ricans and Filipinos have existed but are often ignored, yet they include experiments and treatment with Total Body Irradiation (TBI), research on oral contraception leading (for some) to sterilization, and careless use of contaminated vaccines on humans. Researchers failed to protect their subjects; shining a light on these unethical cases could help to further the process of moral reckoning with past abuses, encourage political reforms improving health and welfare, and promote higher ethical standards in healthcare and research on those with diminished autonomy/self-determination.
Keywords: Abuse; Ethics; Philippine; Puerto Rico; Research; Treatment.