In the 1940s and 50s, U.S. government scientists and university researchers in multiple cities inject patients, many of whom are members of the military and some civilians, with high doses of radioactive plutonium to learn about the effects of radiation and project the casualties of a nuclear war. Most of the patients will have significant ill effects or will die of cancer.

In 1996, the U.S. government will reach a $4.8 million settlement to provide compensation to 12 of the participants' families. The same year, the New York Times will report that as many as 20,000 people were subjected to "unethical experiments carried out by Government doctors, scientists and military officials" between 1944 and 1974.