Cornelius P. Rhoades

Cornelius P. Rhoades was an American doctor and pathologist that became infamous for performing several objectionable experiments with human beings.

In 1931, sponsored by the Rockefeller Institute, Rhoades deliberately infected several Puerto Rican citizens with cancer cells. Thirteen of the patients died. When asked about the reasons for the study on Puerto Ricans, Rhoades replied:

In 1932, Rhoades was exposed by Puerto Rican Nationalist leader, Pedro Albizu Campos. However, he was just transferred and placed in charge of two chemical warfare projects in the 1940s establishing U.S. Army Biological Warfare facilities in Maryland, Utah, and Panama.

Later, Rhoades was given a seat on the United States Atomic Energy Commission. It is reported he performed radiation experiments on human beings there. He was also awarded the U.S. Legion of Merit by the government for his research.

Many people still criticize the lack of action taken against Rhoades for his experiments.

In 2003, controversy arose again as to the letter and the alleged experiments and the AACR Cornelius P. Rhoads Memorial Award would no longer be associated with his name. The award was not presented that year.

Rhoades in popular culture

Puerto Rican political satire comedy group, Los Rayos Gamma, usually perform a parody of Rhoades with Jacobo Morales personifying "Cornelio Rodas" as an insane Frankenstein-like scientific bent on the elimination of Puerto Ricans. The character even has a hunchbacked side-kick personified by Sunshine Logroño.

ee also

* Pedro Albizu Campos
* Radiation exposure

External links

* [http://tis.eh.doe.gov/ohre/ DOE Openness: Human Radiation Experiments]
* [http://www.oncology-times.com/pt/re/oncotimes/fulltext.00130989-200307250-00016.htm;jsessionid=LGFRJsVJ01ycGJ6d6Df9ZWb5r2QKK0pnn1wmyNhm2JrRsv2v15Qz!1629792715!181195629!8091!-1#P26 AACR Award name change]
* [http://www.temple.edu/isllc/newfolk/consider3.html Consider the Source]
* [http://www.carpenoctem.tv/cons/aids.html Seize the Night]
* [http://www.fortunecity.com/millenium/okehampton/377/ahistoryofsecretusgovtprograms.html A History of Secret U.S. Government Programs]
* [http://altinfo.blogspot.com/2007/12/career-of-western-mengele.html The Career of a Western Mengele]