However, other non religious system (communist USSR, post-revolution France) did or still do the same: they did run experiments on convicts or war prisoners. We all benefit from the science gained.
The big question is whether the greater good as defined by a religion or non religious belief-system can offset the perceived negatives - but there are clearly positive too: the prisoners mentioned in the article were condemned to death already. By volunteering, one survived:
> As a reward for his services, the prisoner had his death sentence commuted to life as a galley slave
Down the thread, people mention China.
Personally, I trust China CCP and I believe it is trying to inflict as little hurt as possible while maximizing the greater good for the whole society.
It is sad the idea of a greater good now looks quaint.