Ethical Issues Of Race In Medical Research - Essay Example

Ethical Issues of race in medical research: The case of Tuskegee syphilis experiment. The Tuskegee experiment was a study in which syphilis was left untreated. The development of syphilis was to be viewed, and it was to be determined if the victim could get better on his own, without any treatment or cure. This was one of the most horrifying events happening in the 20th century, and was considered to be more driven more by hatred against the African-American community, than for scientific research. 399 African- Americans suffering from syphilis were chosen for this study, and 201 normal men were picked, who performed as the control for the experiment. The southern part of America, specifically Macon County in Alabama was picked as the venue for this experiment, as most amount of syphilitic patients were found in that area. Also the place had high rates of illiteracy, and was deprived for medical care. Thus it was considered a suitable place, where the innocent people were made part of the experiment, and were assured that they will be cured. (TUSKEGEE SYPHILIS STUDY) The Tuskegee experiment was not successful at all. Numerous people died, while others became blind or insane. Children of many victims were also born with congenital syphilis. Proper treatment and cure was available but was withheld from the patients. (Racism and Research: The Case of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study by Allan M. Brandt). To prevent proper syphilitic treatment from reaching the patients, a list of 256 men was given to the Selective Service Board. These men were excluded from the list of people receiving the syphilis cure. The fact that advantage was taken of the illiteracy of the African-Americans and their tendency to submit to the local authorities, became a widespread criticism of the Tuskegee experiment, and it was considered to be unethical and an example of racism in America. (TUSKEGEE SYPHILIS STUDY) The study was aimed at finding out how syphilis affected African-Americans as opposed to the white population. But till the end of the experiment it remained a mystery how this would lead to improve the treatment of syphilis. For almost forty years, starting from 1932 to 1972, this study continued under the control of the U.S. government and well trained medical officers. The study was subjected to numerous ethical issues. The foremost being that the patients were not informed about the procedure. All they were told was that it was a free medical program being provided to them. All aspects of the research were not shared with the participants; in order to get their consent if they were ready to get involved or not. Thus, unfair advantage was taken of the illiterate African-American population in Alabama, who were mostly farmers and a free medical examination was highly appealing to them, as it was impossible for them to afford a visit to the doctor. The research team took full advantage of the severe socio-economic conditions in Alabama. Firstly, as the study was about the commonness of syphilis in the African-American community, the health authorities found Macon County in Alabama to have the highest syphilis rate among all areas that were surveyed. Thus, it was concluded that this study could be performed easily on the rural African-American population who would love the idea of free treatment. The theory was that these African-Americans either ways would not be given syphilis treatment, so why not just make them a part of the experiment. During the experiment, the authorities tried to lure the patients into continuing the treatment, and to also attract new ones. They were provided with minor medicines such as aspirin, and were kept under the belief that they were being given proper treatment. This was a significant part of the study, as it maintained the interest of the patients, as they thought that they were being cured. This feature also came off as a shocking ethical issue, at the dying stages of the experiment. (Racism and Research: The Case of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study by Allan M. Brandt) The other main issue regarding the ethical side of the experiment was that the patients’ well-being was not taken into account. This again shows the lack of concern of the authorities for the African-American community. Proper treatment was not given to the patients, and they were excluded from the list of people getting the syphilis cure. Penicillin, which came out as a break through drug during the time, was with-held from the patients. This act was justified by saying that penicillin could not bring about major improvement in the patients and also that there could be further damage to the patients, as a result of the reaction of penicillin. But, regardless the dangers, the patients were never offered the choice of penicillin treatment and they were kept in the same condition until they died or went blind or insane. (The Tuskegee Syphilis Study and Its Implications for the 21st Century by Carol A. Heintzelman. 2003). There were several other ethical issues related to this study. The stereo-typical views of the African-American community among the medical officers were also a key issue. Doctors during that time supported the common view that African-Americans should not be allowed to roam free. It had worsened them morally and physically, and they should be regarded as the lowest of species. As Dr. W. T. English wrote: "A careful inspection reveals the body of the negro a mass of minor defects and imperfections from the crown of the head to the soles of the feet....”. The sexual behavior of the Negroes was a key factor in racial discrimination. Many doctors believed that them to have a wild sexual expression, which was a danger to the white society. They were thought to be inferior to the white people on intellectual bases, and were also alleged of being attracted towards white women. Furthermore, most doctors held the belief that immorality and family problems amongst the Negro community had made them more prone to diseases such as syphilis, and treating them was next to impossible. Also high rates of syphilis in the Negro community, had led to an increase in crime and insanity, making them a threat to the other communities. These set of ideas, all relating to racial discrimination against the Negro community, played a significant role in letting the health authorities to make the rural syphilitic Negroes, a part of this study. Thus, the origin of this study was also driven by the racial discrimination of the health authorities against the African-American community. (Racism and Research: The Case of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study by Allan M. Brandt) The Tuskegee Study was certainly packed with ethical issues. It was a display of racism and injustice on part of the health authorities, who showed a complete lack of concern for the African-American community. It was a study carried under ghastly circumstances resulting in many patients dying from painful deaths. Initially, being planned for six months, the study was extended up to forty years and showed no signs of stopping, regardless the number of deaths. No protest was carried out, and no significant actions were taken against the immoral and perilous nature of the study. Although the study was regarded as extremely unethical, it could not be continued without the joined efforts of some of the African-Americans themselves. Some medical facilities and main black institutions also participated in this practice. An African-American nurse, Eunice Rivers, also played a key role by delivering meals and non-effective medicines to the patients, and maintained their interest in the experiment. Also the doctors were driven by the racial prejudice they held against the African-American community. (The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment: The U.S. governments 40-year experiment on black men with syphilis. By Borgna Brunner) Bibliography: TUSKEGEE SYPHILIS STUDY http://www.brown.edu/Courses/Bio_160/Projects2000/Ethics/TUSKEGEESYPHILISSTUDY.html Racism and Research: The Case of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study. By Allan M. Brandt http://sociology101.net/readings/Racism-And-Research.pdf The Tuskegee Syphilis Study and Its Implications for the 21st Century. By Carol A. Heintzelman. 2003 < http://www.socialworker.com/tuskegee.htm> The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment: The U.S. governments 40-year experiment on black men with syphilis. By Borgna Brunner < http://www.infoplease.com/spot/bhmtuskegee1.html> Read More