Truman Capote's Research

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Disturbing, horrendous, and gut-wrenching could be words used to describe the complex and twisted movie, Capote (Baron, Vince, & Ohoven, 2005). Based upon the murder of the Clutter family in 1959, Truman Capote traveled to Kansas to cover the story for The New Yorker (Baron, Vince, & Ohoven, 2005). However, during his own personal investigation he realizes that the story is too extensive for a magazine article, so he decides to write a book (Baron, Vince, & Ohoven, 2005). Finally, this is where Capote’s story of troubling, and unprofessional research commences (Baron, Vince, & Ohoven, 2005). First, at the start of his research collection Capote did not seek approval from any review board or ethics board (Baron, Vince, & Ohoven, 2005). This …show more content…

The right to beneficence was violated by Capote as he entered into special relationships with a vulnerable population of research subjects (Baron, Vince, & Ohoven, 2005). Perry Smith and Richard Hickock were given special treatment by Capote in order to get a great story (Baron, Vince, & Ohoven, 2005). For example, Capote works diligently at getting these two guilty men a better attorney than their first legal representation in Kansas in order to delay their death sentence (Baron, Vince, & Ohoven, 2005). Furthermore, over the course of the two to three years they are imprisoned, Capote brings countless gifts and tokens to them, including pornography (Baron, Vince, & Ohoven, …show more content…

From bribing the prison ward to have access to Perry and Richard whenever and for how long he pleased; to lying to each of these men about their rights to refuse to answer his investigative questions (Baron, Vince, & Ohoven, 2005). Furthermore, Perry and Richard’s entire lives were laid out in a book for a society’s pleasure without even stopping to ask them if they agreed with this book (Baron, Vince, & Ohoven, 2005). Truman Capote took complete advantage of two vulnerable men in their weakest hours, and used their pain for his professional glory (Baron, Vince, & Ohoven, 2005). In today’s society, research can never be conducted like this as it violates every basic human right that each person holds, no matter who they

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