John Friend Mahoney | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Commissioner of the New York City Department of Health | |
| In office 1950–1953 | |
| Preceded by | Harry S. Mustard |
| Succeeded by | Leona Baumgartner |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 1, 1889 Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | February 23, 1957 (aged 67) |
| Resting place | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Alma mater | Marquette University (MD) |
| Awards | Lasker Award (1946) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  U.S. Public Health Service |
John Friend Mahoney (August 1, 1889 – February 23, 1957) was an American physician best known as a pioneer in the treatment of syphilis with penicillin. He won the 1946 Lasker Award.
Mahoney led human experiments in Terre Haute prison and was a supervisor of the Guatemala syphilis experiments, the latter of which involved the deliberate spread of syphilis and gonorrhea to unwitting patients, which included orphan children. These experiments are today widely deemed as unethical.