Dr. Salk, discoverer of the Polio vaccine is no doubt a legend in the medical research community.  Just the same, a recent article discusses some practices which would by today’s standards be considered objectionable.

From AP IMPACT: Past medical testing on humans revealed:

A federally funded study begun in 1942 injected experimental flu vaccine in male patients at a state insane asylum in Ypsilanti, Mich., then exposed them to flu several months later. It was co-authored by Dr. Jonas Salk, who a decade later would become famous as inventor of the polio vaccine.

The article fails to mention that he used a similar tactic when developing the polio vaccine.  Dr. Salk famously injected himself and his family with his untested vaccine.  Historians often to neglect to mention that he did so after he tested his vaccine on 43 patients at the D.T. Watson Home for Crippled Children.

Here is a PBS documentary on the subject.  The relevant time index is 9:15