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4 Jy 1954

MEORADUM FOR: Isspecter Cenerl

1. I have been fnforsed by Ir. Lashbrook tbet Nrs. Clson hes been notisied or e fatorble rulizs on cospensatior by the Peau of Proloyees Ccezensation. I bave fonrarded the fizal pazers to the Buresu and, consequestly, believs this csse is closed so far as the Gezerel Couzsel's Office is cozcarzed. It is possible tzzt ve rey be called oa to help in conaection vith the Veterans Aiziaistretion on the lapsed lire insurazce poliey, but I trust azy such help will be in the for of advice rather thas actioz..

.2. My ccments on this case are fairly sisple. Tere ie o dispute as to the facts. All astes on how e egerizent tas. carried out and on the succeeding events as they relate to Dr. Olsoz. Te isplications ers in dispute. It is, of ccute, perfectly possiole that the suicide Grex out of a Fe-exdscics state vhich vs not afected by the eperizezt. Eoxere, we bave taken the gosition oificially that the erperizent at lesst "trissered" the suicide, and, as all the facts tezd to suzort. this conclusion, ve should accept it.as firal. Is szy case this has been the positiod frou the stert of Dr. Cottlies ard I. Lashbro yet these to, supported by Dr. Gibbozs, are insistent tst it.is praetically inpossible for this ds to have ay Eaiul after effects. These tao positions ere, to ae, cepletaly iacozsistent.

3. If the dris "trigsered" the suicide, ergo tha tigge itselr is irherently dsrserous urder certain cirestisces. Therefore, I a not happy with what sens to ne a ve casel attitude on the part of TSS represeztatives to the vay this aoerizent was conducted and to thair rezarks that this is jaat one of the risks rurnins with scientific exqerizeztatzoa. I do not elisizata the need for takins risks, but I do believe, especially vhen huzas heelta or lire is at stake, that at laast

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the prudent renodole caaurs which caa be tekes to iaialae the risk ust bo tkoa pd failco to do so is culpzble neslsuzse. ins actious or the various indlviduals cunsurnil when the eroezs or the experinent on Dr. Olson Ducane canifest also revoaled tae Pallce to observe nornl and reasonble precauticns. The orriees of ts Aseney chersed vitb the Pasponsioility for matters or this ser, zirticularly the Security Osrice and the Nedical Stazr, were not inrorzei, aithoush ve vore iaformel that the TSs rejreseatatives vere deeply cosseed ovur the secuity dspects ard actully refered Dr. Olson to D. Abrnzon for nedicsl treatzent. As a result a death occurod vhich mist have beea prevezted, and the Asancy es a whole, ard particularly the Diroctor, vere csusht complstely by suprise in a post ccbarrassins

LAWREICE R.ECUSTON Genearal Consal.

1 Att- Co=plete backgrourd ....zaterial cn subjeet