Did you know: The untold story of Pritam Kaur and how she was part of hidden radiation experiments in 1969 Coventry

In 1969 Coventry, England, a Punjabi mother named Pritam Kaur visited doctors at a nearby hospital looking for a cure for her persistent migraines. She trusted the system and followed instructions. What she was not told, according to later accounts and investigations, was that her treatment may have placed her inside a covert medical experiment involving radiation.

Pritam Kaur was prescribed chapatis as part of what was presented as a dietary or medical recommendation. Soon after, she was taken to the Atomic Energy Research Establishment (AERE), a facility associated with nuclear research, not routine healthcare. Inside, machines surrounded her. They clicked and whirred. No one explained what they measured. No risks were discussed. No meaningful consent was given.

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At the time, Pritam was a migrant woman, navigating a foreign medical system, with cultural and language barriers that made questioning authorities difficult. She believed she was being helped. In reality, allegations later suggested that she and others like her were used in radioactive tracer experiments overseen or connected to the Medical Research Council (MRC), tests that should never have been conducted without full, informed consent.

These experiments reportedly focused on how radiation moved through the body. The subjects were not scientists or volunteers, but ordinary patients, many from immigrant or working-class backgrounds. People who trusted doctors. People who were never told the truth.

Impact of radiation on one’s health

Studies reveal that  small amounts of radiation can leave a mark on the body. How much harm occurs depends on the strength of the radiation, how long someone is exposed, and the way it’s administered. Effects can appear immediately, or build gradually.