Philadelphia issues apology for Holmesburg Prison experiments

The City of Philadelphia issued an apology Thursday for the unethical experiments a University of Pennsylvania faculty member of 50 years performed on Holmesburg Prison inmates between the 1950s and 1970s.

Albert Kligman, one of the pioneers of modern dermatology who developed Retin-A, experimented on mostly Black male inmates, exposing them to pharmaceuticals, viruses, fungus, asbestos, LSD, and a component of Agent Orange. The men were paid but unknowing subjects, with some experiencing active reactions for up to seven months, according to reports published by The Inquirer in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s.

“Without excuse, we formally and officially extend a sincere apology to those who were subjected to this inhumane and horrific abuse,” said Mayor Jim Kenney in a statement. “We are also sorry it took far too long to hear these words. To the families and loved ones across generations who have been impacted by this deplorable chapter in our city’s history, we are hopeful this formal apology brings you at least a small measure of closure.”

Kenney said that despite these experiments having taken place decades...