IDF's medical experiments brought to court
JPost.com Israel
By JPOST.COM STAFF
Thirty-four IDF soldiers petitioned the High Court of Justice on Thursday in an attempt to put an end to medical experiments the IDF conducts on soldiers.
During their mandatory army service the soldiers were injected a number of times with a substance the IDF claims is an Anthrax antidote. However, they said, the IDF has thus far refused to provide the specific type of medicine used, or the dosages administered. Over 700 soldiers reportedly participated in the experiment after giving their "consent," but each soldier's unique medical condition was allegedly not accounted for by the doctors who conducted the tests, thus causing complications for some of the participants.
The petitioners request that all the relevant data and documentation be released to them.
Doctors for Human Rights also petitioned the High Court against the IDF, saying that in essence, it was easier for the army to conduct experiments on soldiers than on animals. The petitioners, who noted serious problems with the way the tests were conducted, want the Court to order the Defense Minister and Chief IDF medical officer to order a cessation of all further experiments until the matter is properly legislated.
"This situation is highly unacceptable because the soldiers in question are part of a hierarchal system with strict discipline; hence, any consent given [by the soldiers] is suspect and extremely problematic.
"While experimentation on animals requires the approval of a committee not affiliated with the army," the petition continued, "experiments on soldiers are approved within [the IDF's] medical corps.
By JPOST.COM STAFF
Thirty-four IDF soldiers petitioned the High Court of Justice on Thursday in an attempt to put an end to medical experiments the IDF conducts on soldiers.
During their mandatory army service the soldiers were injected a number of times with a substance the IDF claims is an Anthrax antidote. However, they said, the IDF has thus far refused to provide the specific type of medicine used, or the dosages administered. Over 700 soldiers reportedly participated in the experiment after giving their "consent," but each soldier's unique medical condition was allegedly not accounted for by the doctors who conducted the tests, thus causing complications for some of the participants.
The petitioners request that all the relevant data and documentation be released to them.
Doctors for Human Rights also petitioned the High Court against the IDF, saying that in essence, it was easier for the army to conduct experiments on soldiers than on animals. The petitioners, who noted serious problems with the way the tests were conducted, want the Court to order the Defense Minister and Chief IDF medical officer to order a cessation of all further experiments until the matter is properly legislated.
"This situation is highly unacceptable because the soldiers in question are part of a hierarchal system with strict discipline; hence, any consent given [by the soldiers] is suspect and extremely problematic.
"While experimentation on animals requires the approval of a committee not affiliated with the army," the petition continued, "experiments on soldiers are approved within [the IDF's] medical corps.
