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The McGill University Health Centre acknowledged that Cameron “carried out experiments at the Allan Memorial Institute during the ’50s and ’60s,” but said it wasn’t responsible for his actions.

“The research attributed to him continues to be controversial, and its consequences, unfortunate,” MUHC spokesman Gary Francoeur said. “The courts have already established that the Royal Victoria Hospital was not considered, by law, the employer of Dr. Cameron; at the time, he exercised his profession in an autonomous and independent manner.

“It’s important to note that Dr. Cameron’s research could not be carried out today at our institution,” Francoeur said. “Since the ’60s, the ethical and regulatory frameworks have evolved considerably.”

The U.S. Department of Justice declined to comment.

Like Alison Steel’s mother, Jeanie, who was admitted to AMI in 1957 and died in 2002, Marlene Levenson’s aunt and Julie Tanny’s father each lived for a long time after they were discharged from Cameron’s oversight, though in vastly different states than before.

Goldberg, who was taken in at age 19 to be treated for depression, stopped speaking and began to cringe when relatives tried to caress her. Brilliant and musical through adolescence, she went on to need lifelong care until she died aged 86.

When Charles Tanny went home from AMI in March 1957, two-and-a-half months after his admission, he was frail, confused and distant. There were no more surprise visits to the amusement park. Charles physically abused Julie into her 20s, when, in 1977, he suffered a stroke and lost the ability to write or talk. He died in 1992 — minutes, Julie said, after receiving a payout from the Canadian government.

Charles’ transformation left Julie numb and instilled in her a sense of shame and distrust. She started experiencing panic attacks. She met with therapists for decades — and could never bring herself to speak about her father.

She is speaking now, for half a dozen living former patients with whom she’s in touch and a class of eligible plaintiffs that totals several hundred.

“There is an option to finally, hopefully get some kind of restitution,” she said. “I really want people to come forward and get the justice they’re entitled to.”

• Email: nfaris@postmedia.com | Twitter: @nickmfaris