Timeline

Date	Events
1932	‘Tuskegee Syphilis study’ began. 399 men with syphilis and 201 without were involved in a study to monitor the natural course of syphilis. Men were told that they were being treated for “bad blood”.
1934	Publication of the first paper suggesting the negative health ramifications related to untreated syphilis.
1936	Tuskegee study is criticised because it is not known if men are being properly treated. Regardless, local physicians were asked to assist with study and not treat men.
1945	Penicillin is discovered to be a widely- accepted treatment of syphilis. Men involved in Tuskegee study are not treated with penicillin.
1947	Nuremberg Code was written. This legally safeguarded a patient’s right to informed consent and freedom to quit in regards to medical trials.
1964	Developed by the World Medical Association to further govern clinical medical research; imposing a moral code upon physicians.
1966	The alleged commencement year of the ‘Unfortunate Experiment’ in Auckland.
1972	Publication of the first news article condemning the Tuskegee study. Study terminates.
1978	Belmont Report is released, partly in response to the Tuskegee study. Summarises ethical principles and institutes guidelines for research involving human subjects.
June 1987	“The Unfortunate Experiment at The National Women’s Hospital” is published by Sandra Coney and Phillidia Bunkle in the Metro Magazine. They alleged that an experiment was conducted in 1966 (never formally terminated) that resulted in the death of participants.
10 June 1987	New Zealand’s Minister of Health sets up a Committee of Inquiry into allegations concerning the treatment of cervical cancer at the National Women’s Hospital.
5 August 1987	Cartwright Report is released. Recommendations are to make sweeping changes across the practice of medicine and research, and various measures to protect patients’ rights. There is also the suggestion for a national screening program for cervical cancer.
1990	Federation of Women’s Health Councils of Aotearoa/New Zealand is formed as a national voice for women’s health issues.
February 1990	Medical Council announced that several doctors who ran the experiment would face disciplinary charges as a result of the inquiry.
May 1990	Medical Council announced that it will not proceed with the charges laid against Dr. Green because he, in his elderly age, “is not mentally nor physically fit to defend the charges of disgraceful conduct”.
March 1993	Fifteen women are awarded ‘accident compensation for medical misadventure’ resulting from their treatment from the ‘Unfortunate Experiment.’