The Tuskegee Syphilis Study Controversy

The Tuskegee Syphilis study was unethical because the participants did not give consent to be tested on, the scientists targeted only black men, and many participants died. The experiment was unethical because the participants did not give consent to be test subjects of this study. The participants were promised free healthcare without their knowledge of the experiment. “The subjects of the experiment were observed over a period of several decades, but the nearly 400 men who were infected were not informed of their diagnosis.

Tuskegee Airmen Have you ever wanted to know what it is like to be in mid air warfare? That is what the Tuskegee Airmen did. They were one of the best Airmen the U.S ever had. They flew during World War II and protected U.S bombers. They were one of the most accomplished Airmen and Gunmen the U.S ever had.

The John Hopkins Hospital was not the only place that violated people with color in this way. A study was done in Macon County, Alabama with black male patients who had syphilis. This study was designed to find out a history

And they did so on the campus - and at the very same time - that state officials were conducting the infamous Tuskegee syphilis studies” (Skloot 97). Situational irony is pointed out when the author talks about the Tuskegee study. When the Tuskegee Institute began operating the HeLa Factory the infamous syphilis study was happening at the same time. The irony is the HeLa cell are used to save people’s lives, but many African-Americans were dying. This helps develops the theme of scientific ethics and how far should doctors be allowed to go for research.

The Tuskegee training program was started at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama in 1939 (Moye 2010). In early 1941, the War Department officially established the Tuskegee Airmen (Homan 2002). The Tuskegee Institute in Alabama became the only Army Air Forces training facility for African-Americans due to the Institutes great reputation and political connections (Moye 2010). Unlike all of the other Civilian Pilot Training programs, the Tuskegee program had consisted of only African-American pilot trainees. The Tuskegee Airmen were the very first group of American military pilots that were African-American (Homan 2002).

Trevor Sommer Redtails (2012) Director: Anthony Hemingway Main Actors: Terrence Howard, Cuba Gooding Jr., Nate Parker, David Oyelowo The Truth: Prior to the FEPC, which prohibited discrimination in the military, African Americans weren’t allowed to pilot air craft for the United States military. After the FEPC was created the Air Force established a segregated all-African American pursuit squadron based out of Tuskegee, Alabama in what was known as the “Tuskegee experiment”. The purpose of the “experiment” was determine whether or not African Americans had the ability to fly and maintain combat aircraft. The men who served in this squadron were known as the Tuskegee airmen. Throughout WWII the Tuskegee airmen gained respect for their flying

First of all, the investigators should have respected the people they were going to conduct by obtaining an informed consent, letting the men decide if they want to be a participant after all. Second of all, medical researchers should not have lied to the people about how long this study was going to last. Third of all, both the risks and the benefits of it should have been stated to them so that the men could decide if this experiment is any beneficial to them or not. Lastly, the participants should have been randomly assigned to the control or experimental group without considering their race, class, and gender. Also, the medical researchers should not have the right to give the favored participants the helpful treatment rather than the riskier

Then, there was a sterilization experiment. They conducted the experiment by using drugs, surgery, and x-rays. Thousands of victims were experimented on. The most common choice was radiation treatment. The victims were deceived into going into a room where the treatment was being held.

Racism Proven In the years 1932 to 1972 the U.S. public health service conducted an experiment on 399 black men with the early stages of syphilis. From this study the PHS concluded that these men had no idea that they had the disease. The study showed told that they were being treated for “bad blood” disease and that the treatment was not only right but that it was prolonging the disease.

September 1, 1939, the start of World War II, regarded by many as the worst point in history. More than 85,000,000 people died in the years of 1939 to 1945. Adolf Hitler said something that sums up what the Germans were trying to accomplish during WWII, “Today Germany tomorrow the world.” Hiroshima and the Tuskegee Airmen are two things that greatly affected people and the war in general. Without Hiroshima and the Tuskegee Airmen the war may have ended differently.

In fact they were being harmed. An example from the movie is when the participants in the experiment were told entering the program by Nurse Evers that they were all being treated for bad blood when in fact they were being solely experimented on for the benefit of the government. The men were receiving free treatment that was not even designed to better their health. The benefits for the participants did not outweigh the risks. Matter of fact one may argue that there were many risks and little to no benefits.

There were 600 participants, 399 men who had the disease and 201 men who did not have the disease (Jones, 1993, p. 1). Participants were selected because they lived in Macon County, Alabama. Researchers found this location to have high rates of syphilis. Melissa Greco writes, “Ironically, it began as a study to invoke more public health care for blacks, particularly in the treatment of syphilis, which was considered a major epidemic in the 1930s” (p. 188).

The study would ultimately prove that everyone, no matter the color of their skin, is equal when it comes to the disease of syphilis. The intention behind manipulating the men was not for the greater good of society, but instead was for the greater good of Dr. Brodus and Miss Evers. Although the actions of Dr. Brodus and Miss Evers prove to be unethical, I also find the actions to be unprofessional. Miss Evers should have informed the men of the severity of the disease, as well as how the disease is passed from one individual to another. They failed to inform their patients of many of the risks that came along with the disease.

This study was referred to as the “Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis

Although the experimentation of animals has furthered medical knowledge, it should not be allowed because it is brutal and animals are unable to give their approval. In order to do a study on humans it must be authorized by them, where animals are unable to give consent, which strikes questions in the world of science on whether this is morally acceptable. Although animal experimentation can result in saving the lives of millions, many find it to be cruel and unjust. Seeing as animals are unable to speak for themselves, they are still able to express their emotions through their behavior.