Rating: 
Summary: Undue Risk = Undue Errors
Review: Although I have read only a few excerpts from this book it appears to be full of errors and unfounded statements. An example, the military hallucigen BZ is called benzodiazepine, which it decidedly is not. BZ is 3 quinuclidinyl benzilate, a benzilate a member of the gylcolates. While this one example may seem unimportant to some readers, the cumulative effect of all the errors, misstatements and distortions of fact totally defeat the credibility of the book. This is very disheartening for an area that does need truthful and thoughtful discussion, without artificially created sensationalism. I would suggest that anyone reading this book, keep chemical and medical textbooks handy to check facts. Unfortunately for those people mentioned in the book, it will be difficult to check facts and innocent scientists will wind up maligned. The book is so riddled with mistakes and errors, it is hard to give it any credit.
Rating: 
Summary: An important and well researched book.
Review: Anyone interested in the history and ethics of human experimentation in the U.S. should read this book. Moreno is a careful scholar and a good writer who knows how to choose important and interesting examples.
Rating:
Summary: Did I hear someone say ethics?
Review: As someone who has participated in the "whitewash" that is the "Report on Human Radiation Experiments", Mr. Moreno is surely familar with unethical behavior. It was not enough to help in the government cover up but now Mr. Moreno's ethics allow him to make a buck off the subject.
Rating:
Summary: Did I hear someone say ethics?
Review: As someone who has participated in the "whitewash" that is the "Report on Human Radiation Experiments", Mr. Moreno is surely familar with unethical behavior. It was not enough to help in the government cover up but now Mr. Moreno's ethics allow him to make a buck off the subject.
Rating: 
Summary: A Short Review of Secret Experiments
Review: Calling chemical warfare "weapons of mass destruction" is misleading since they are more limited than atomic or biological weapons. Biological weapons can turn against their users. Only atomic weapons have enormous destructive capacity (p.xv). The Advisory Committee on Human Radiation documented secret experiments on humans from WW II to the present day. Biological warfare goes back to ancient times: placing decaying bodies into a water supply or launching them into a besieged fort. There is much more known about biological and chemical weapons today than before 1992. Government secrecy is corrosive to democracy, and is a true threat to our way of life. The use of human guinea pigs shows something rotten at the heart of society's political rulers. This very readable book faces the uncomfortable reality of using humans for medical experiments. Bacteria and chemicals are hard to control and deliver effectively but relatively cheap to produce and transport. Testing on humans has a long international history, as is hiding these facts (p.4). The Nazi doctors trial at Nuremberg set a standard for military-medical human experiments. Hundreds of other doctors were never tried. A "crime against humanity" was defined as the reckless pursuit of scientific knowledge, or sheer sadism. Experiments on humans predated the Nazis; in 1931 the powerful chemical manufacturers were caught using patients in hospitals (p.64). Then there was America's own wartime research (pp. 65-6). But America was not riddled with a hate-mongering pathology that permitted the systematic injury of certain groups of humans (p.79). Chapter 4 tells of Nazi scientists brought to America because of their expertise. They now used American soldiers rather than concentration camp victims (p.89)! Similar experiments were done by Japanese Unit 731 (pp.103-7). Their history was kept secret to protect Army biological weapon testing at Fort Detrick, whose budget was second to the Manhattan project (p.109). The US military wanted this information on crop destruction and human experiments. A Soviet war crimes trial documented these facts (p.111-4). Germ warfare charges in Korea and China are discussed on pages 115-6.
Rating:
Summary: Chilling
Review: I used to work at an ethical review board, and I read whatever books I could find on medical research ethics. This is the most memorable one I read. It was shocking but fascinating. I would recommend this book to anyone working in clinical research or medical ethics.
Rating:
Summary: Chilling
Review: I used to work at an ethical review board, and I read whatever books I could find on medical research ethics. This is the most memorable one I read. It was shocking but fascinating. I would recommend this book to anyone working in clinical research or medical ethics.
Rating:
Summary: how dare you
Review: Mr. Moreno I am appauled that you would publish this account. In my opinion as the daughter of a victim of this horrific practice I can not imagine that you have any grasp on this subject. Your subject matter seems to be, in my opinion, obtained from Eileen Welsome. I find it very sad that for some reason you need to obliterate the sanctity of humanity from your daily life. I wonder if you would be so sanctimonius (sp)in your "opinions" (as opposed to facts) if these victims were you or your family. And, if that would be O.K. with you than why have you not subscribed to donate yourself or family members to science? Or better yet; subscribe yourself to plutonium injections as we speak? Katie Kelley daughter of Cecil Kelley
Rating:
Summary: Chillingly accurate with ominous implications for the future
Review: Mr. Moreno's stunning account of experiments done by the Nazis was very interesting. His great writing made the book a page turner and I applaud Mr. Moreno for writing it. I am looking forward to reading more of his books.
Rating:
Summary: What an interesting and insightful book
Review: Mr. Moreno's stunning account of experiments done by the Nazis was very interesting. His great writing made the book a page turner and I applaud Mr. Moreno for writing it. I am looking forward to reading more of his books.
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