Question

Research and watch a video or read an article on the Tuskegee experiment. Most people's initial reaction to the Tuskegee experiment is to ask how it could have happened? What do you think? Given today's laws of informed consent, could it happen again? Why do you feel that way? How does the Tuskegee study differ from today's research studies for HIV and AIDS?

Answer 1

Given the ethical framework of today's research ethics and standards, it is not surprising that people are asking how such an unethical experimental study was conducted. Given today's strong research ethics and laws guarding the participants in such studies, it is not even imaginable about conducting a study like Tuskegee. Considering today's laws of informed consent and practices of bioethics it is unlikely that something like Tuskeege will happen again. I feel like that because there are strong laws to protect the participants from harm unlike in the past. Furthermore, researchers are more knowledgeable and concerned about the ethical aspects of the study unlike in the past. And, it goes without saying that the racism played its own role in conducting that experiment today's educated and empowered population will not give consent to such an experiment and a democratic modern society like ours will not conduct an inhuman study like this on our fellow citizens.

Tuskeegee study is different from today's research studies of HIV/AIDS in many ways. Firstly an INFORMED CONSENT is taken from participants researchers use translated study tools to overcome the barriers of language problems in order to keep subjects INFORMED. Nearly all major scientific studies now have an ethical committee that will guide the research team on ethical issues. And, unlike the Tuskeegee today's researchers on HIV/AIDS will not deny the subjects the benefits of treatments and no participant's disease is allowed to get complicated and progress so that the researchers can 'ANALYSE' it.