Research with human subjects has always been important and knowledgeable towards the progress of medical science. According to Persell, (1990) regarding ethical issues involved in research, people cannot and should not be manipulated by researchers. They should be told as much as possible about the nature of the study without jeopardizing the aim of the research. The moral or ethical side is to balance the protection of the individual's rights and interest while encouraging the advancement of science (website. Retrieved 5/20/07). Any type of research is a form of intrusion into the lives of the individuals and with this come great risk. Therefore, their permission should be granted and their responses and results treated with confidence and respect. Although research studies are often used to inform public policy, potential discomfort to participants must be weighed against the expected scientific gain (Persell,1990).
Sometimes researchers may need to hide their identities, especially when doing participant observations. Certain groups such as cults and corporate boards may not want them in their midst. There are ethical and practical dangers in secret research and researchers must decide if the same or similar results are obtainable without deception. In many cases it is possible says Persell, (1990) and when it is not, they must evaluate the importance of the research. Another important ethical issue is regarding who gets studied and who learns the results. Traditionally the poor and minorities have been studied most often with little or no personal gain. An example of this would be the information gathered from welfare mothers and their children as oppose to the wealthy and their children.
Yes, this experiment violates the ethical standards regarding human subjects in research during the Tuskegee Study period. It would also violate today's ethical standards regarding the same issues. During that period and now there were standards. The difference is how they worked to protect the public and the subjects. In both eras the main concern focuses on legal liability and public image. Then and now not much concern was given to the necessity of the ethical rules but more to the practical side. However, those involve have learned form past experiences that to adjust regulations might be important at times but not always in the best interest of those involve. The government has the power to create and keep great important secrets, especially those of national interest. However, they must do so in a manner that gains trust from the public. (website. Retrieved 5/20/07).Blacks today is more aware and educated regarding their rights and is speaking out against injustice. It's possible that similar experiments are being conducted today but the government is more cautious in their efforts to cover their tracks to avoid the repercussions of violating similar ethical standards.
Yes. This experiment was racist, inhumane and unethical. The debate was to find out if syphilis affected the neurological functions of whites and the cardiovascular systems of blacks. A study proved the opposite that cardiovascular damages were more common while neurological dysfunctions was rare. The study began in 1928 with the Julius Rosenwald Fund and the findings regarding the whites were published in 1929. Yet, a study that was intended to last 6 to 9 months lasted 40 years. The fact that whites still ruled blacks back then along with poverty, lack of health care and education made them willing yet uniformed subjects (Thomas & Crouse Quinn, 1991).
It was inhumane because of the deception and cruel methods used. Treatment was available but was withheld; black nurses and doctors were used to gain their trust, and they were enticed with promises of free health care, food and transportation. They were also told it was mandatory testing for their jobs and those tested positive would be treated. They were baited and used by Public Health Services (PHS) to gain funds for their program that was being threatened by the Depression in 1929. Everyone was apart of the great plan except the subjects who were the most important part of the research (Thomas & Crouse Quinn, 1991).Yes it was inhumane because theses men were treated like ‘lab rats' who did not have the ability or intelligence to say "yea" or "nay" to what they were involved in. Most of all, for 40 years, they endured heart disease, paresis, blindness, locomotor ataxia, and even insanity. To add ‘insult to injury' was the extraordinary measures taken to see this experiment to the end. They were denied opportunity to be drafted during World War II because the PHS stressed the importance of the study. The government even hunted and kept track of those who dared to relocate (Thomas & Crouse Quinn, 1991).
Dr. John Heller, in a 1976 interview, proved the unethical side, which also borders on the inhumane. According to Heller "The men's status did not warrant ethical debate. They were subjects, not patients; clinical material, not sick people". It would have been understandable if these men were aware of the full detail of the experiment. Human subjects have a right to informed consent, protection form harm, privacy and the benefit of the knowledge gained from the research. These men were denied everything that the ethical standards represented.
The fact that study came to an end after The Washington Star ran a front-page story proved, regardless of admission, that they were wrong. Little or no regards was given for the lives of these men which still causes doubts in the minds of blacks regarding the sincerity and honesty of the government and their researches.
