Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present

Washington describes “iatrophobia” (the fear of medicine) as prevalent among African Americans to this day. What are some of the historical reasons for rampant iatrophobia? Are such fears still justified in the present day? Why or why not?

While Medical Apartheid is critical of the history of US medicine, Washington argues that therapeutic research focused on Black people remains a necessity. What steps could medical researchers take in designing medical experiments that focus on African Americans, and how could they assuage fears of abuse?

In the Introduction, Washington describes some of her personal experiences with medical institutions, as well as the episode that first inspired her to research the history of American medical abuses. Is it standard for historians to describe their own relation to the material they research? Why would Washington choose to include such stories in her book, and what is its intended impact on the reader?

Part 3 describes the impact that a number of cutting-edge medical advances may have on African Americans. Choose three examples from the news of new medical technologies and explore what these innovations might mean for Black populations. Are they beneficial, dangerous, or both?

Scientific racism was a set of beliefs developed in the 19th century to help justify the continued existence of the institution of slavery. Does scientific racism still influence the way doctors treat Black patients?

In Chapter 11, Washington writes that a number of medical researchers partake in a racist narrative that Black people are “born criminal” (284). What does she mean by “born criminal,” and how does this attitude impact the types of experiments that scientists perform?

In what ways do racial stereotypes impact doctors’ treatment of Black people? Choose three examples from Medical Apartheid in support of your argument.

Informed consent is the process by which doctors ensure that research subjects are willing to voluntarily participate in an experiment, and it requires an ongoing dialogue between the doctors and their subjects. Washington describes groups such as prisoners, children, and soldiers for whom she argues it is difficult to obtain truly voluntary informed consent. Is informed consent possible in these groups? Why or why not? What might be changed to ensure informed consent is being obtained?