What is vertus hardiman?

Vertus Hardiman was an African American man who was a victim of radiation experiments carried out by the U.S. government during the 1960s. Hardiman was working as a janitor at a hospital in Chicago when he was exposed to high levels of radiation without his knowledge or consent. This exposure led to his later development of cancer that ultimately resulted in his death.

Despite his awareness of the radiation exposure and its potential consequences, Hardiman was never informed of the true nature of the experiments conducted on him. His case has since become a symbol of the unethical and inhumane treatment of African Americans in medical research.

Hardiman's story gained wider attention in the 1990s when it was featured in the book "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot, which also brought to light the story of another African American woman whose cells were used for medical research without her consent. The case of Vertus Hardiman serves as a reminder of the importance of informed consent and ethical practices in medical research.