Ebb Cade

Ebb Cade (March 25, 1902 – April 13, 1953) was an African-American construction worker who is known for being the first human subject of plutonium injection experiments conducted by the United States Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) in 1945.

Early life

Ebb Cade was born on March 25, 1902, in Alabama. Little is known about his early life and education. He worked as a construction worker and was employed by the Roane-Anderson Company.

Plutonium injection

On March 24, 1945, Cade was involved in a car accident and was admitted to the Oak Ridge hospital in Tennessee. He suffered multiple fractures and was in a critical condition. During his treatment, without his consent, he was injected with 4.7 micrograms of plutonium-239 by the doctors under the direction of the AEC. This was part of the secret Human Radiation Experiments conducted by the U.S. government during the Manhattan Project.

Aftermath and death

Cade survived the plutonium injection and was released from the hospital after 155 days. He continued to work as a construction worker until his death on April 13, 1953. His case was not publicly revealed until the 1990s when the U.S. government declassified the documents related to the Human Radiation Experiments.

Legacy

Ebb Cade's case has been cited as a significant example of unethical human experimentation and violation of medical ethics. It has led to discussions and debates about the rights of patients and the responsibilities of medical professionals.

See also

• Human Radiation Experiments
• Manhattan Project
• Medical ethics