Question

Discuss how medical paternalism was demonstrated in the Tuskegee Syphilis study. Elaborate on the aspects of this study that helped form the ethical research principles we are guided by today. Specifically, discuss how the ethical principle of distributive justice was violated. Explain how the principles of beneficence and non-maleficence were violated. Lastly, discuss how informed consent was handled in this research study. As a researcher, do you believe great findings such as the ones in this study are ever worth the cost that occurs when these ethical principles are ignored?

Answer 1

Tuskegee Syphilis study is a black mark in the reputation of US government, which has very unethically subjected its innocent public for research and not providing the available treatment.This costed numerous lives of patients, their partners and even the birth of congenital syphilis newborn. The medical paternalism hid the real purpose of the study to the participants .

The treatment for syphilis was available from 1940 but the people who had the infection were purposefully not administered this who were participants whereas others in the same area were treated for the same.This has violated the distributive justice

The participants nearly about 600 male involved in the research where intentionally caused harmed by the medical professionals by restricting the prescription of the syphilis treatment and saving their lives.This is against the principle of beneficience and non -maleficience.

It was in 1972 the matter was brought into press and created a massive response to initiate the protection of the participants in the research.This brought new rules and regulations, definite informed consent,institutional review board,exactly informing the type of research,treatment, diagnosis and its prognosis to the participants and patients rights to withdrew from the research at any point of time .The US Department of Health and Human Services oversees this.

Research is a way to find new remedies or solutions to a problem and benefit the him an society, anything which can cost even a single live without the participants knowledge is considered to be unethical, how big or great the research findings be.A true researcher will not ignore the ethical principles.