Harriet A. Washington

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Harriet Washington 2015

Harriet A. Washington is an American author, medical ethicist, and academic, best known for her work in the intersection of medicine, ethics, and the history of medicine. She has focused extensively on the issues of medical ethics, environmental racism, and the history of medical experimentation on African Americans. Her most notable work, Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present, has received critical acclaim and numerous awards for shedding light on the dark aspects of medical history in the United States.

Biography

Harriet A. Washington was born in the United States. She pursued her education in the field of science and journalism, which laid the foundation for her career as a medical ethicist and author. Washington has served as a fellow in ethics at the Harvard Medical School, a fellow at the Harvard School of Public Health, and as a senior research scholar at the National Center for Bioethics in Tuskegee, Alabama. Her academic and professional journey has been dedicated to exploring and addressing ethical issues in medicine, particularly as they affect marginalized communities.

Career

Throughout her career, Washington has written extensively on the intersection of race, ethics, and medicine. Her articles have appeared in a variety of scholarly and popular publications. However, it is her book Medical Apartheid that stands as a seminal work in the field. The book offers a comprehensive history of medical experimentation on African Americans, from the colonial period to the present day, highlighting the exploitation and abuse that has occurred under the guise of scientific progress.

In addition to Medical Apartheid, Washington has authored other important works, including Deadly Monopolies: The Shocking Corporate Takeover of Life Itself, and the Consequences for Your Health and Our Medical Future and A Terrible Thing to Waste: Environmental Racism and Its Assault on the American Mind. These works further explore the themes of ethical medical practices, corporate influence on healthcare, and the impact of environmental toxins on communities of color.

Impact and Legacy

Harriet A. Washington's contributions to the fields of medical ethics and the history of medicine have been profound. Her research and writing have brought to light the often overlooked and dark aspects of medical history and practice, particularly in relation to racial exploitation and injustice. Her work has sparked discussions within the medical community and beyond about the need for ethical reform and the importance of addressing the historical and ongoing disparities in healthcare.

Awards and Recognition

Washington has received numerous awards and recognitions for her work, including the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction for Medical Apartheid. Her work continues to be a critical resource for scholars, medical professionals, and anyone interested in the intersections of race, ethics, and healthcare.

Selected Works

• Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present
• Deadly Monopolies: The Shocking Corporate Takeover of Life Itself, and the Consequences for Your Health and Our Medical Future
• A Terrible Thing to Waste: Environmental Racism and Its Assault on the American Mind

See Also

• Medical ethics
• Environmental racism
• History of medicine in the United States