The Tuskegee Study is a study that took place years ago and was about syphilis. From what I have found the physicians lied to Africian-Americans and told them that they were getting treated for "Bad Blood." When they were not treated at all. They say that is was an act of racism.
Best answer:
Tuskegee was not only an example of racism, but it also set the ethical discussion about the integrity of human research subjects and the patient's "right to know." This case was a classic example of the disrespect of patient autonomy. Autonomy is something central to medical ethics, especially those who subscribe to Kantian deontological ideals. Autonomy is to act from one¨s choices without interference from outside sources whether overtly or by coercion. Truth-telling is central in that one can only be autonomous if one is basing their decisions off of truthful facts. If a person is being told lies by a doctor, the person is not autonomous but manipulated by the doctor to make a decision to the physician¨s liking. Why is that important? Because we value that those who choose to be subject to clinical research do so freely and rationally. If the research model lures subjects in by false pretenses that not only disrespect the autonomy of people but deliberately put them in harms way, then that can definitely be a violation of society's morals. That is one of the many reasons the Tuskegee study is included in many medical ethics courses. |
