From the beginning of scientific discoveries, research has been a source of a long-term solution to specific problems that need to be solved. Thus, research is one of the central stimulants affecting how the human race is developing in all aspects of life. However, although research is one of the significant driving engines in many fields, unfair research practices have resulted in disastrous consequences. Among the wrong acts that were found in the process of conducting research is the Tuskegee syphilis study, which resulted in death in the early years of significant disease research among African Americans. Thus, this paper aims to discuss unethical practices observed during the study and recommendations that can help reduce such actions in research.
Immoral practices of the Tuskegee syphilis study
Through observations, the Tuskegee syphilis study is an example of one of the most abusive acts of unethical research in history (Tobin 2022). Furthermore, the study focused on African American men with a motive to establish the ordinary course of syphilis. However, despite the research having a genuine approach to establishing a cure for the disease, the research was fundamentally flawed and morally abused human rights. It is important to note that during the making of the study, the participants were poor and could not access good medicine. Therefore, the subjects were denied the right to know the actual quality of the research they were engaged in.
Additionally, the participants were given the impression of being provided free healthcare. However, research established that the subjects were not treated at all for syphilis despite the appearance of penicillin as a standard treatment in the 1940s. On another note, the researchers ignored the fundamental ethical principle of informed consent (Blake, 2023). Therefore, the research concealed pivotal information about the study, risking the participants’ lives. Therefore, the failure to obtain informed consent represents a severe violation of ethical standards of conducting scientific research. In addition, the study was not scientifically sound and robust. However, the researchers did not try to gain practical knowledge but instead generated a racist and condescending agenda. The real motive, indeed, was to study the effects of untreated syphilis in black men, which further strengthened discriminatory beliefs related to racial differences in health. It took four decades to complete the Tuskegee study, which is eighty times longer than the maximum duration of any ethical research. The participants were denied treatment even after the revelation that the penicillin effects could be used to cure syphilis, leading to long-term unnecessary suffering, severe adverse health consequences, and many deaths.
Unethical Breaches of the research
It is acknowledged that numerous ethical breaches marred the Tuskegee Syphilis Study. Therefore, this study looks at two of the most standing breaches that illustrate the severity of the study’s misconduct. Through research conducted by Blake (2023), it is notable that the study’s participants, who were from poor backgrounds, went through the entanglement of virtual ethical guidelines through deception due to a lack of informed consent. Furthermore, it is also noted that the subjects used in the research were deceived about the nature of the study through promises of lifetime Medicare. On another note, the researchers sought to hide the fact that the study was conducted to observe the ordinary course of syphilis and denied the patients the known cure, penicillin. The lack of transparency on the research motive further deprived the participants of their right to exercise autonomous decisions concerning participation in the study.
Furthermore, due to a lack of informed consent, the study deprived the subjects of understanding the possible risks and benefits of participating in the research, causing long-term health issues. Another unethical behavior observed in the research on syphilis was the lack of proper treatment for the subjects who participated in the study. According to Blake (2023), the scientists involved in the research deprived the individuals in the program of their civil right to access quality healthcare. On another note, despite proof that penicillin could be used to treat syphilis, researchers continued to deny participants access to treatment, thus contributing to countless deaths. It should be noted that the denial of treatment epitomized the deaths of many African–American men and also showed the racial injustices conducted by scientific characters.
Commendations for ethical practices in research
Conducting a research study free from ethical concerns requires strict adherence to modern ethical standards, which safeguard the well-being and autonomy of research participants. Therefore, this study recommends some approaches that can help mitigate unethical behaviors, such as those witnessed in the Tuskegee study. First is Informed Consent and Transparency. Researchers must avoid another tragic research incident by developing complete and transparent procedures for a better-informed consent procedure. Additionally, all the potential study subjects need to be informed about materials that explain to them what terms and conditions they agree with.
Moreover, written consent forms must be clear and understandable for the participants who can ask questions. In addition, continuous interaction during the experiment should be transparent so that participants can withdraw their consent at any time. Another recommendation is independent Ethical Oversight. Society’s thoughts should be promoted to and included by researchers whose independent advisory ethics need a review board of various people like the affected community. Additionally, an oversight body must be established to help evaluate the description of approaches and ethics regarding research (Lynch et al., 2020). In the study, research has found that an independent review guarantees adherence to ethical principles and protects all participants’ interests in the case. Also, according to Lynch et al. (2020), community engagement is another approach that aids in mitigating unethical behaviors in research.
Furthermore, by incorporating societal thoughts, research can adequately adhere to the rights of culture in a particular community. Furthermore, with the help of local community involvement, research can demonstrate transparency and cooperation in developing trust among residents. Another crucial aspect that research should observe is education and training. Through education, researchers can learn how to handle participants’ welfare while observing their integrity. Therefore, through this paper, it is evident that the lack of ethical behaviors propagated the deaths of hundreds of African-American men. Also, through the insights of this paper, it is notable that employing measures that can mitigate unethical concerns in research can foster a conducive research environment that prioritizes the welfare of individuals.
Bibliography
Blake, Kathryn V. (2023). “Ethics Challenges in Pediatric Research.” The Journal of Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics 28(8):680–86. doi https://doi.org/10.5863/1551-6776-28.8.680.
Lynch, Holly Fernandez, Mohamed Abdirisak, Megan Bogia, and Justin Clapp. 2020. “Evaluating the Quality of Research Ethics Review and Oversight: A Systematic Analysis of Quality Assessment Instruments.” AJOB Empirical Bioethics 11(4):208–22. https://sci-hub.se/https://doi.org/10.1080/23294515.2020.1798563
Tobin, Martin 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). doi: https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.202201-0136so.
write