The history of medicine in the United States is often portrayed as a series of triumphant achievements achievement that have significantly contributed to increased life expectancy. These breakthroughs result from the efforts of numerous researchers as well as countless patients who willingly participate in medical experiments. However, not all chapters of medical history are commendable since there are some experiments that have perpetuated more harm than good to society. The infamous Tuskegee experiment is a good example of the shameful episodes that occurred between 1932 and 1972 when physicians associated with the Public Health Service (PHS) intentionally denied effective treatment to hundreds of African-American men suffering from a life-threatening illness. This disturbing experiment raised the question of ethical principles that guide researchers in terms of violation of the code of ethics, like autonomy and disclosure. The experiment was characterized by deception since the Public Health researchers lied to the African American men about the key motive of the experiment as they were told the essence of the experiment was to ensure they received expert medical care.
The Tuskegee Syphilis Study was conducted by the Public Health Service (PHS), which is the precursor of the well-known CDC. The researcher intentionally withheld effective therapy for 20 years as they violated the expectations of the sponsoring institution (Tobin, 2022). Since PHS was a government agency, it should have prioritized the well-being of the participants under study. Moreover, the motive behind compromising the integrity of the study was deeply rooted in a misguided quest to study the natural history of untreated syphilis. Dr. Taliaferro Clark believed that African-American participants in Macon County, which is founin Alabama offered an unparalleled opportunity for such a study. Furthermore, the eugenic ideals that were prevalent during that time significantly affected the researchers’ perception because a venereal disease was considered a threat to the eugenic ideal, thus reflecting a disturbing intersection of scientific inquiry with racial biases.
From this heinous human experimental study, the ethical research principles that were violated included informed consent in making autonomous decisions, beneficence, and the principle of justice. These ethical principles are usually pivotal in guiding healthcare professionals in dealing with participants of any given study. At the beginning of these harmful experiments, the research participants were never informed about the true nature of the study as they were deceived into believing they had “bad blood” and they were going to receive free medicine. They did not have autonomy over their decisions before participating in these studies. According to Tobin (2022), the research experiment utilized poor men who worked in white men’s farms with no formal education which implied that they were not aware of their rights as well as the implications of the study research. The violation of beneficence was clearly evident when the researchers deliberately withheld effective treatment to the participants, hence causing harm to participants by allowing the progression of a potentially fatal disease. On the other hand, the ethical principle of justice was violated when the scientists disproportionately targeted African-American men from a vulnerable population due to their socio-economic status.
The Tuskegee study contravened several provisions of the Code of Ethics for Nurses, like Provision 1 “The Nurse Practices with Compassion and Respect for the Inherent Dignity, Worth, and Unique Attributes of Every Person” (American Nurses Association, 2015). The participants were not treated with dignity and respect, and their inherent worth was disregarded. Provision 4 “The Nurse is Responsible and Accountable for Individual Nursing Practice and Determines the Appropriate Delegation of Tasks” (American Nurses Association, 2015). The nurses involved failed in their responsibility to advocate for the well-being of the participants. The consequences of the fraud were diverse as participants suffered needless harm, with some dying directly from syphilis despite the availability of effective medication. The researchers faced reputational damage due to a breach of professional as well as moral dignity. On the other hand, The PHD suffered criticism as it lost public trust. The research community also faced a tarnished reputation where it was subjected to increased scrutiny, which led to significant reforms in research ethics.
To maintain the integrity of the study, researchers should have prioritized ethical principles such as informed consent, beneficence, and justice. These key guidelines act as a comprehensive framework for guiding practice in any research. Moreover, they should have terminated the research study when effective treatment (penicillin) became available (Tobin, 2022). This would have been guided by not only beneficence but also nonmaleficence to ensure their decision to prioritize the well-being of the research subjects. The scientists should have maintained transparent communication to ensure the participants were aware of the procedures as well as the changes in the research protocols. It would only have been fair if the patients were allowed to express their concerns regarding the various painful procedures that they were subjected to.
The extortion was uncovered by Peter Buxtun, a social laborer utilized by PHS. His ethical endeavors to uncover the truth started the unraveling of the untrustworthy inquiry. The Tuskegee ponder underscores the primary significance of educated assent in nursing inquiry. Medical caretakers must guarantee that inquiries about subjects are entirely mindful of the nature of the ponder. These components incorporate the potential dangers as well as benefits collected from their cooperation. Healthcare experts must advance the well-being of the inquire about subjects. This adjusts with the rule of non-maleficence since medical attendants must expeditiously mediate on the off chance that they see potential hurt to members. Medical caretakers ought to moreover effectively take an interest in moral oversight instruments to guarantee they stay careful in announcing moral slips. The final suggestion of this inquiry about nursing revolves around the creation of a culture of moral obligation through advancing instruction. Moral preparation programs can play an instrumental part in engaging medical caretakers to explore complex moral situations in inquire about.
In outline, the Tuskegee Syphilis Test remains a dim chapter within the history of Joined Together States’ therapeutic morals. The case highlights the requirement for healthcare experts to stay careful in securing the rights of investigative members. In addition, the think is especially effective in depicting moral measures since people can effortlessly relate with the key players who are African Americans in our society. Investigate subjects who survived these tests were cleared out with not enthusiastic but also physical scars that will be difficult for them to disregard. Healthcare experts ought to guarantee they are guided by the required moral systems when managing human subjects.
References
American Nurses Association. (2015). Code of ethics for nurses with interpretive statements. https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/nursing-excellence/ethics/code-of-ethics-for-nurses/coe-view-only/
Tobin, M. J. (2022). Fiftieth anniversary of uncovering the Tuskegee syphilis study: the story and timeless lessons. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 205(10), 1145–1158. https://doi.org/10.1164%2Frccm.202201-0136SO
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