Syphilis-Ethics in Research
Ethics in Research
Research is a systematic, formal rigorous and precise process employed to gain solutions to the problems and/or to discover and interpret new facts and relationships (Waltz and Bausell, 1981). Each and every ethical standard related to the research should be followed. But, The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment is one of the best examples of research done with violation of basic ethical principles of conduct. The Tuskegee syphilis experiment was a clinical trial done on human beings between 1932 and 1972 in Tuskegee, Alabama, by the U.S. Public
Health Service. They were doing research related to the natural progression of the disease syphilis. The forty years long study, while the initial goal was to follow the route of untreated
Syphilis for 6 to 9 months, followed by treatment of participant group, was controversial for many reasons related to ethical standards.
Informed Consent
The study was conducted on 399 African-American sharecroppers with syphilis.
Researchers did not inform them about the study or its real purpose. Instead, the men had been misguided that they were being treated for “bad blood”. There was no evidence that Researcher has given all the facts required to provide informed consent. The fact that finally autopsies would be required, was also concealed. The researchers did not inform the participants regarding the purpose, expected duration and procedures of the research. They also did not explained the participants regarding their rights to withdraw from the study, once the participation has begun.
Adequate Debriefing
The groups selected for study were primarily poor, illiterate share croppers. Most of them had hardly ever seen a doctor before. They were unaware of their syphilis infection. They were told that they will receive the treatment for their “bad blood”. So, poor share croppers thought that doctor will save them from their illness. The researcher never told the participants regarding the real nature,
Research is a systematic, formal rigorous and precise process employed to gain solutions to the problems and/or to discover and interpret new facts and relationships (Waltz and Bausell, 1981). Each and every ethical standard related to the research should be followed. But, The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment is one of the best examples of research done with violation of basic ethical principles of conduct. The Tuskegee syphilis experiment was a clinical trial done on human beings between 1932 and 1972 in Tuskegee, Alabama, by the U.S. Public
Health Service. They were doing research related to the natural progression of the disease syphilis. The forty years long study, while the initial goal was to follow the route of untreated
Syphilis for 6 to 9 months, followed by treatment of participant group, was controversial for many reasons related to ethical standards.
Informed Consent
The study was conducted on 399 African-American sharecroppers with syphilis.
Researchers did not inform them about the study or its real purpose. Instead, the men had been misguided that they were being treated for “bad blood”. There was no evidence that Researcher has given all the facts required to provide informed consent. The fact that finally autopsies would be required, was also concealed. The researchers did not inform the participants regarding the purpose, expected duration and procedures of the research. They also did not explained the participants regarding their rights to withdraw from the study, once the participation has begun.
Adequate Debriefing
The groups selected for study were primarily poor, illiterate share croppers. Most of them had hardly ever seen a doctor before. They were unaware of their syphilis infection. They were told that they will receive the treatment for their “bad blood”. So, poor share croppers thought that doctor will save them from their illness. The researcher never told the participants regarding the real nature,
References: American Psychological Association. (1992). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct Gray, Fred D. (1998). The Tuskegee Syphilis Study: the real story and beyond Tuskegee Institute, The Study revealed, ch.5, pg.74 Jones, J. (1981). Bad blood: The Tuskegee syphilis experiment - A tragedy of race and medicine (NY: The Free Press) www.tuskegee.edu/global/story.asp?s=1207598 NIH GUIDE, Volume 23, Number 11, March 18, 1994