ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Chester M. Southam

Chester M. Southam was a doctor who did some very bad things a long time ago. He was interested in studying a disease that affects people's immune systems called cancer. But instead of asking people if they wanted to be part of his study, he tricked them into taking part without their permission.

He did this by injecting cancer cells into people without telling them. This is not ok! People have the right to know what is being put into their bodies and to say yes or no.

Some people got sick from the injections and were not given proper medical care. This is also not ok! A doctor's job is to help people, not to make them sick and then ignore them.

When people found out what Southam was doing, they punished him and made sure it never happened again. It's important to always ask permission and to treat people with kindness and respect, especially if you are a doctor.