“ETHICALLY IMPOSSIBLE” STD Research in Guatemala from 1946-1948 
the experimental subjects. 256 Dr. Hector Aragon, 
the director of the Hospicio Nacional de Guate- 
mala (the Orphanage), who in addition worked in 
the Psychiatric Hospital, 257 also developed a rela- 
tionship with the researchers. He published with 
the researchers and gave a speech on the diag- 
nostic experiments in the orphanage at the Second 
Congress of Venereal Diseases in Central America 
held in Guatemala City in 1948. 258 
Serological Experiments 
To ensure reliable syphilis diagnoses and to assist 
their colleagues in the Guatemalan government 
to improve public health, the researchers began 
serology testing (a diagnostic tool to detect anti- 
bodies indicative of infection) in November 1946. The investigators focused 
primarily on the effectiveness of four specific blood tests: the Kahn, Mazzini, 
Kolmer, and VDRL slide tests. 259 For these serology tests, blood was drawn 
and subjected to one or more different syphilis testing methods that would 
indicate whether the blood contained antibodies against syphilis. If anti- 
bodies were present, the conclusion was 
that a subject had either an active syphi- 
litic infection or a previous infection. 260 
Lumbar punctures were sometimes 
conducted to confirm the results of blood 
tests or to look for infection in the spinal 
fluid that might not have been found 
using blood tests. 261 
Serology testing began in the Penitentiary 
on November 7, 1946. 262 The researchers 
also conducted serological research in the 
Guatemalan Army and Psychiatric Hospital. 
Efforts to develop reliable serological testing 
would confound the group for several years 
and their serology work in Guatemala 
The Venereal Disease and Sexual Prophylaxis 
Hospital, Guatemala City, 2011 
Hector Aragon 
“ Tribute to Dr. Aragon on his Golden 
Anniversary in the Profession” 
Published in the Prensa Libre 
newspaper on December 4, 1971. 
The Daily Journal Archive, Historical 
Archives, CIRMA 
36 
