The problem is that of a singular source of information for the broad brushed claim Medical experimental ethics were non existent at the time hence research was performed that is shocking to current minds but was accepted at that time ALL nuclear research was highly classified as well so ANYTHING nuclear was automatically under wartime secrecy to include industrial accidents like this It was also during the early stages of the Cold War where there was fear of an actual thermonuclear war hence the wish to know the full impact of radiological contamination of humans to predict civilian and military casualties Indeed even today a body can be seized by the government autopsy performed and organs removed for study and not only in nuclear environments but in civilian life One example is forensic autopsies where family permission isn t necessary