An account of the life of Edward “Butch” Anthony, a recurrent inmate at Holmesburg Prison and other detention institutions, is told in Allen Hornblum’s most recent book, Sentenced to Science. Anthony, along with hundreds of others serving time in Holmesburg (mainly African Americans), was the victim of a number of medical experiments employed by the University of Pennsylvania throughout the mid-1900s. These experiments ranged from apparently harmless trials, such as Johnson and Johnson bubble bath tests, to much more intense studies that even included observing the effects of LSD and other chemicals.
Beginning with the reminiscence of his initial participation in a medical trial, Anthony recalls the resulting physical and emotional distress he experienced, while highlighting his ever-growing distrust for medical professionals. Hornblum then outlines Anthony’s personal background: his life growing up as the youngest child in a family headed by a devout Baptist minister, the “rough” neighborhood filled with drugs, alcohol, and poverty, as well as the ever-dangerous gang violence. Regardless of the fact that Anthony’s parents attempted to shelter him from the detrimental aspects of his neighborhood, he was drawn toward a life of drug dependence and criminal behavior.
Hornblum continues to describe the dangerous conditions Anthony faced as a vulnerable newcomer in the prison setting and his susceptibility to offer himself as a “guinea pig” in return for monetary compensation. Seemingly simplistic experiments have provided a recurring set of problems for Anthony. For example, a bubble bath test has left him suffering from harsh breakouts of painful sores covering his entire body, as well as swollen hands and feet. Likewise, he continues to battle hemorrhoids, an unforgettable reminder of nonexistent care he was provided following an obscene dietary trial. The ruthless treatment and lack of sympathy for humankind by the leaders of these tests are emphasized. In the beginning, research was performed on the safety and efficiency of deodorants, dermatological substances, and dietary pills/supplements; however, it extended further following World War II to include tests of mind altering drugs used by the military. The involvement of the medical research in a corrupt prison system proved vast detrimental effects on the health and well-being of all participating inmates. In describing the unbearable pain and recurrent appearance of devastating physical and psychological wounds resulting from the tests, Hornblum navigates through Anthony’s interaction with other prisoners, women, drug use, and spiritual involvement with the Muslim faith. These prisoners were not sentenced to prison terms; instead, they were sentenced to a lifetime of science. It was not time served as punishment for a crime, rather it was days, weeks, months, and years designated as test rats for the advancement of medicine.
Sentenced to Science raises a number of ethical issues pertaining to justice, autonomy, nonmaleficence, and informed consent. This dark part of the nation’s history could potentially become today’s practice if proposals for similar experimentation are honored by the Institute of Medicine. In bringing such issues to the forefront, Hornblum effectively shows the lasting detrimental effects of using the vulnerable for the financial and personal advancement of others. Using these individuals as a means to an end is not morally allowable.
As an advocate for the rights of human dignity for all persons, Hornblum uses this book to raise awareness of such experimentation and prevent further legislation and policies that disregard the sanctity of human life. By reading the story of Edward “Yusef” Anthony and observing the endless trials and tribulations into which he was coerced, one cannot help but wonder how man can be so ruthless to other human beings. This book is a must-read for those involved in bioethics, medical research, and criminology.
