Guinea Pig Zero: An Anthology of the Journal for Human Research Subjects Book

Though technically an anthology, this book is for the most part the work of Robert Helms, a professional medical research volunteer ("guinea pig" is his term of preference), who for several years edited an online zine by the same name as the book. There is nevertheless a surprisingly wide selection of subject matter: "report cards" of various medical research facilities written by several human guinea pigs--Helms, of course, among them--descriptions of failed and sometimes fatal medical experiments, an account of a libel lawsuit against Helms by a large hospital chain (which he appears to have won), advocacy for survivors of the first Gulf War, shocking accounts of medical experimentation during World War II by the Germans, as well as less publicized work by the Japanese, and even some translated French short stories on the subject of medical malfeasance and the dehumanizing effect of extreme poverty. In one section Helms takes some of his savings from participating in medical experiments and visits a leper colony in India.

Helms is always the voice of the underdog, sometimes but not often shrill, always speaking for the under represented and misunderstood human guinea pigs like himself. But his interests are far-ranging and backed up by what appears to be extensive research. This collection is fascinating, eye-opening and sometimes shocking, providing an in depth look at an important but little known segment of our society.