Radiation-Spiked Cereal
In the 1940’s, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, along with Quaker Oats Company, produced a radiation-spiked cereal that was fed to mentally disabled and troubled children of the Fernald State School in Waltham, Mass.

Government Compensation for Exposure to Radiation
In 1995, former residents of Fernald State School in Waltham, Mass., who were used for radiation experiments without their consent, received a court-ordered amount of 1.5 million dollars.

Investigation of Radiation Experiments
President Bill Clinton formed a committee to investigate and tell the truth to the public about radiation experiments and exposure to intentional radiation releases performed on U.S. citizens without their consent between 1994-1974. He wanted to make sure it didn’t happen again.

Excuses for performing Radiation Experiments without Consent
Thousands of human radiation experiments and several hundred intentional radiation releases began during WWII and the Cold War-era. The government knew little about surviving an atomic war and needed to gather information. Most of the experiments were radioactive tracer studies that they didn’t expect to do harm. The Atomic Energy Commission gave guidelines about formal consent, but they were not always followed. In 1991, regulations were adopted by the Dept. of Health, Education, and Welfare and instituted nation-wide.

Could Uninformed Radiation Experiments Happen Again?
President Clinton’s investigative committee reported that uninformed citizens could be involved again, especially in the case of intentional releases of radiation.

National Bioethics Advisory Commission Formed
Finally, President Clinton formed the national Bioethics Advisory Commission. All federal agencies were to revise their policies and follow recommendations of the Advisory Commission on Human Radiation Experiments. Under President Bush, this Commission was dissolved.