The Military Biomedical Complex

War is an engine of innovation. It has motivated extraordinary achievements in medicine and science, many of which have generated benefits far beyond the battlefield. These advancements, however, have come at great cost. Countless individuals have been exposed to hazardous research, often without their knowledge or consent. Cities, towns, and rural areas have been used as test sites for atomic, chemical, and biological warfare, causing widespread environmental damage and a myriad of health ailments in generations of Americans. Health professionals have been intimately involved in enhanced interrogation programs, while warfighters face an emerging scenario where biomedical enhancements may become essential elements of military missions. Laws and ethical codes have been rewritten to facilitate these endeavors and shield wrongful conduct from the public. Due to secrecy mandates, governmental immunities, and lackluster healthcare, many individuals harmed by these actions have been left without legal remedies or adequate means to address their injuries.
America’s Military Biomedical Complex shows how the drive for scientific and military superiority has shifted the moral compass of government and society, detailing scores of examples where untoward conduct has been rationalized as necessary to promote national security and achieve military goals. The book traces the fascinating story of how laws and ethical codes have co-evolved with the nation’s military science pursuits, dating back to the founding of America. Without passing retrospective judgment, it explores the moral calculus conducted by decision-makers at key moments in military science. This analysis reveals that officials were keenly aware of ethical dilemmas, but nonetheless chose to engage in risky-and sometimes unlawful-activities to further press national security goals. Coupled with this historical reflection, America’s Military Biomedical Complex recommends policies that harmonize contemporary national security concerns with fundamental principles of justice and human dignity. It introduces the concept of jus in praeparatione bellum-justice in war preparations-a doctrine of restraint and responsibility that aims to elucidate just and unjust means of preparing for war.

Efthimios Parasidis is Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer Professor for the Administration of Justice and Rule of Law at the Ohio State University. His research focuses on topics in health law and bioethics, with a specialty in military medical ethics and the ethics and regulation of research with human subjects. He has consulted for the U.S. Air Force and DARPA on ethical and legal issues in military science, has served on several governmental advisory committees, and has received grants from the Fulbright Foundation, Greenwall Foundation, and Robert B. Silvers Foundation. Prior to entering academia, Professor Parasidis worked as an attorney in private practice in New York City, and was an Assistant Attorney General for the State of New York.