29. Tuskegee Trauma: How lethal is medical racism?
Hundreds of men signed up to receive free healthcare for βBad Bloodβ. But the men weren't treated for the disease that was killing them. What's the legacy of this racist research?
In the 1930s in Tuskegee, Alabama, hundreds of men signed up to a medical study which offered free transportation to and from hospitals, free hot lunches and free medicine for most diseases.
But the men were not informed of their diagnosis or treated for the disease that was killing them - syphilis.
This study went on for 40 years and 128 men died from syphilis and related conditions.
On this episode of Bad People, Dr. Julia Shaw and comedian Sofie Hagen discuss whether or not the Tuskegee syphilis study is impacting the uptake of the COVID vaccine in America today, how racism impacts medical research, and the importance of tackling everyday racism.
This episode includes audio from NBC news, ABC news, and White House Television.
Warning: This episode contains strong language and discussion of racism.
CREDITS
Presenters: Dr. Julia Shaw and Sofie Hagen
Producer: Caroline Steel
Artwork: Kingsley Nebechi
Music: Matt Chandler
Series Editor: Rami Tzabar
Academic Consultants for The Open University:
Dr. Zoe Walkington
Dr. Camilla Elphick
Commissioning Assistant Producer: Adam Eland
Commissioning Executive: Dylan Haskins
Commissioning Editor: Jason Phipps
Bad People is produced in partnership with The Open University and is a ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Audio Science Production for ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Sounds
#BadPeople_ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ
Podcast
-
![]()
Bad People
True crime stories and insights into why people do bad things.
