Edgewood Arsenal Medical Experiments Compensation. Parker Waichman LLP is investigating secret medical experiments that were conducted on U.S. soldiers from 1955 to 1975 at the U.S. Army’s Edgewood Arsenal in Maryland. Recent reports indicated that as many as 7,000 soldiers may have been subjected to these experiments in a top secret Cold War research program studying chemical and biological weapons. In some cases, soldiers involved in these experiments were exposed to multiple chemical and biological agents, including incapacitating drugs and toxic substances. It is not known how many soldiers may be experiencing long-tem health problems because of their participation in the U.S. Army medical experiments at Edgewood Arsenal.
If you or a loved one were exposed to dangerous drugs and toxins in the course of unethical medical experimentation conducted by the U.S. Army at Edgewood Arsenal, you may be entitled to compensation. Parker Waichman LLP is offering free lawsuit evaluations to any former soldier who was subjected to medical experimentation at Edgewood Arsenal between 1955 through 1975. If you or someone you love were a victim of these experiments, we urge you to contact Parker Waichman LLP today to protect your legal rights.
Human Experiments at U.S. Army Edgewood Arsenal
According to a CNN report that aired in March 2012, from 1955 to 1975 more than 7,000 soldiers each spent two months at Edgewood Arsenal, where they were exposed to as many 250 different chemical and biological agents as part of secret medical experiments. The men were sworn to secrecy and told to never discuss Edgewood Arsenal or the experiments that went on there with anyone.
According to CNN, declassified government documents indicated the men were “exposed to incapacitating drugs like BZ; or to sarin, an extremely toxic, potentially deadly substance that disrupts the nervous system; or to VX, a liquid neurotoxin considered one of the most dangerous chemicals created. Other exposures included tear gas, and hallucinogenics like LSD.” According to at least one class action lawsuit filed on behalf of Edgewood Arsenal veterans, other substances tested on soldiers there included mescaline, amphetamines, mustard gas, CS (riot control agent), a THC analog called “red oil,” anthrax, botulism, plague, tularemia, Q fever, and crop destruction agents such as dioxin, used in Agent Orange.
The soldiers were induced to become part of the experiments by program representatives who said they were looking for soldiers to test Army gear, vehicles, and military combat equipment, CNN said. According to a deposition given by a former soldier involved in the program who is now deceased, it was not until men arrived at Edgewood Arsenal that they were informed that drugs would also be used in the experiments. While the soldiers were given the option to decline the drug testing, there were “innuendos“ of “bad punishments” if they did not participate, the former soldier said, according to CNN. The soldier’s deposition also stated that participants were given no warnings about side effects or potential long-term health risks that might be associated with the experiments.
According to the class action lawsuit filed on behalf of Edgewood Arsenal veterans, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), despite having actively participated in the experiments, has denied between 97% and 99% of all disability or death claims arising out of the exposures. The VA has been accused of bias in these claims denials due to its self-interest in the issues. The claims process has also been complicated by Department of Defense claims that it cannot find records to substantiate most of the veterans’ participation in the tests, causing the VA to summarily deny those claims, the lawsuit alleges.
Need Legal Help Regarding Edgewood Arsenal Medical Experiments?
The personal injury attorneys at Parker Waichman LLP offer free, no-obligation case evaluations. For more information, fill out our online contact form or call 1-800-YOURLAWYER (1-800-968-7529).
