Tag Archives: foster care

Health

In the 1980s and ‘90s, at the height of the AIDS epidemic, New York City enrolled foster children in experimental drug trials — at times, without the permission of parents. The issue emerged five years ago, provoking a storm of controversy, including allegations that black and Latino children (Harlem and other NY city kids) were being taken from parents and used as research ‘Guinea pigs.’ A new report obtained by WNYC says that the city, foster child agencies, and hospitals behaved largely in good faith — but also that they were sloppy in how they handled the delicate balance between getting children necessary medical care . . . and safeguarding their rights. Reporter Fred Mogul has more.

REPORTER: As AIDS spread through her community, Debra Fraser-Howze frequently visited Harlem Hospital as a volunteer. The long-time activist and advocate often comforted infants who were abandoned there.

FRASER-HOWZE: These were children who were left in hospitals, very often by their parents who found out they had AIDS by the birth of their children and decided the best and safest place for these children was to leave them in hospitals. Continue reading →