The Audio Long Read The Coventry experiment: why were Indian women in Britain given radioactive food without their consent?
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Mar 24, 2025 A shocking revelation from the 1960s emerges as Indian women in Britain were unwittingly subjected to radioactive food testing. This exploration of the Coventry Experiment highlights urgent ethical questions surrounding informed consent and the painful legacy of racial disparities in healthcare. Delving into the aftermath, it amplifies the voices of marginalized communities seeking justice and sheds light on the deep mistrust born from historical medical abuses and paternalism.
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The Coventry Experiment Discovery
- Shahnaz Akhtar learned about a 1969 experiment in Coventry where Indian women were given radioactive chapatis.
- Akhtar was shocked she'd never heard of it, given her upbringing in Coventry's South Asian community.
Raw's Viral Thread
- Historian Louise Raw rediscovered the story and tweeted about it, leading to viral attention.
- Raw's tweets detailed the experiment and sparked renewed interest in the story's hidden history.
Kalbier's Discovery
- Kalbier discovered her deceased mother participated in the experiment after seeing Raw's thread.
- Kalbier was left with unanswered questions and concerns about her family's health.