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  • Essay / Most Unethical Research: Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment

    Syphilis is a chronic bacterial disease or illness acquired through sexual interaction or intercourse. According to the book, "The Terrible Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment," due to cultural embarrassment, many different names have been given to the disease. For example, the Germans and English called it the “French Pox”; The Russians, the “Polish evil”; The Poles, the “German evil”; and the Japanese called it “Chinese ulcer.” Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on "Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned"?Get the original essayOn July 25, 1972, an Associated Press writer, Jean Heller, discovered the truth about the Tuskegee study on syphilis. The study, according to the government, was ethically unjustified, but what could be the reasons? In the 16th century, Europe experienced an outbreak or epidemic of syphilis. It is believed that this is due to sailors who traveled from different places. Different medications were tested to see if they could cure the disease but none of them worked or some may have but that caused another problem. For example, the use of Mercury (which later proved to be toxic), Salvarsan (which also caused other incidents like limb removal), and Neosalvarsan were not all effective enough. The Public Health Services of America, which was in charge of monitoring and finding cures for diseases, obtained a sponsor from the Rosenwald Fund (an organization that promoted education and health care for African-American farmers ) for research studies to identify the highest rate of syphilis. As the research progressed, the Rosenwald Fund became unable to pay the research expenses that led to its termination. The PHS then traveled to Macon County, Alabama (with the highest rate of syphilis) and partnered with the Tuskegee Institute, which is located there. The research reportedly included 600 county men (399 with syphilis and 201 without) over approximately 6 to 9 months. Now, the appalling thing about this research is that there has been a lot of deception, disrespect, racism, ignorance of free will, etc. On the one hand, the 600 men didn't even know what the research was about; all they knew was that they would be promised free health care, medical exams, meals and burial costs. Even though they were granted burial fees and promised free medical exams and health care, they never knew their diagnosis; they also received very painful and unnecessary lumbar punctures that were performed in the study. Furthermore, they did not even obtain individual consent. At that time, the consent of the government was already sufficient, not that of individuals. Some were also victims of racial discrimination, as Dr. Clark, a colleague from Michigan, directly states that "these Negroes are very ignorant and easily influenced by things that would be of minor importance in a more intelligent group." Some of the test subjects were illiterate because it was easier for them to deceive and be lured. The research, which also said it would only take 6-9 months, took at least 40 years! The study resulted in 128 men dying, 40 having infected their wives and 19 born with congenital syphilis. The research not only affected a small number of men, but up to 600 men; Many died and many more were never treated. In 1945, penicillin was discovered to be a drug used for many.