ETHICALLY IMPOSSIBLE” STD Research in Guatemala from 1946-1948 
No evidence indicates that the psychiatric subjects gave consent or understood 
that they were involved in an experiment. Indeed, when writing about the first 
experiment in the Psychiatric Hospital Dr. Cutler wrote to Dr. Mahoney that 
This female patient in the Psychiatric Hospital was 
exposed to syphilis twice and was treated with penicillin. 
She also was involved in the serological testing for 
syphilis. Her age and original diagnosis, and reason for 
hospital treatment, are unknown. 
This female patient in the Psychiatric Hospital was 
exposed to syphilis twice and was treated with penicillin. 
She also was involved in the serological testing for 
syphilis. Her age and original diagnosis, and reason for 
hospital treatment, are unknown. 
This 25-year-old female patient in the Psychiatric 
Hospital was exposed to syphilis once with no record 
of treatment. She also was involved in the serological 
testing for syphilis. Her original diagnosis, and reason for 
hospital treatment, are unknown. Records indicate that 
she was released. 
This 16-year-old female patient in the Psychiatric 
Hospital was exposed to syphilis twice and was treated 
with penicillin. She also was involved in the serological 
testing for syphilis. Her original diagnosis, and reason for 
hospital treatment, are unknown. Records indicate that 
the patient was “uncooperative.” 
From the National Archives and Records Administration 
60 
