Human Experimentation Under Review

In the 1940s, American medical researchers intentionally infected Guatemalan prisoners and mental health patients with syphilis. After news of this experimentation came to light last year, President Obama’s bioethics commission launched a review of government research on human subject.

US army studies malaria vaccine

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Malaria is a disease of the developing world, but some Americans are being infected with malaria intentionally to help medical research. Reporter Eric Niiler profiles volunteers in a US Army study of an experimental malaria vaccine. Download MP3

Foreign lessons in hospital efficiency

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Containing health-care costs is a key goal of reform efforts. The World’s Katy Clark reports on the work of Eugene Litvak, a Russian who works with US hospitals on ways to increase efficiency, improve patient care, and cut costs.

Health care and innovation

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The American health care system is expensive, but also highly innovative, providing new drugs and new technologies that benefit the entire world. Could U.S. health reform efforts suppress medical innovation? The World’s Marco Werman speaks with health policy researcher Zack Cooper of the London School of Economics. Download MP3

• BBC coverage of the health care debate
• Zack Cooper’s LSE profile

Karadzic alternative medicine

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Former Bosnian Serb leader evaded war crimes prosecutors for years — in part — by openly practicing alternative medicine. Anchor Katy Clark speaks with Jack Hitt, who’s written a story on Karadzic for this weekend’s New York Times Magazine.

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Senegal’s traditional healers

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Jori Lewis reports that traditional medicine is big business in the West African nation of Senegal. Critics say regulation is needed, while others say traditional healers are their only hope. >>>Click here to view the audio slideshow