In the late 1940s, U.S. medical researchers conducted secret experiments on Guatemalans, deliberately infecting them with sexually transmitted diseases. These illegal, unethical, and barbaric medical experiments were carried out without the knowledge, consent, or approval of the patients involved and only came to light in 2010, prompting a public apology from President Barack Obama. In this edition of "Interviews from Washington" program host Jorge Gestoso discusses what transpired and its ramifications with Paul Bekman, a lawyer in a recently filed suit on behalf of 774 Guatemalan plaintiffs that seeks US$1 billion in damages. The lawsuit, filed against such prestigious and well-known instutions as John Hopkings University, the Rockefeller Foundation and pharmaceutical giant Bristol-Myers Squibb, is now in federal court. teleSUR
