Most Unethical Researches: Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment

Syphilis is an illness or a chronic bacterial disease that is contracted from sexual interaction or intercourse. According to the entitled: 'The Appalling Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment' due to the cultural embarrassment, a lot of different names was called for the disease. For example the German and English called it the 'French Pox'; Russians, the 'Polish sickness'; Poles, 'German sickness'; and the Japanese called it as the 'Chinese Ulcer'.

On July 25, 1972, a writer for the Associated Press, Jean Heller, uncovered the truth about the Tuskegee Syphilis study. The study, as said by the government, was ethically unjustified, but what could be the reasons why?

Way back in the 16th century, Europe experienced a Syphilis epidemic or outbreak. It is believed that it is caused by sailors who traveled from different places. Different medicines were tested to see if it would cure the illness but none of them worked or some may have but it had caused another problem. For example, the use of Mercury (which later on was found out poisonous), Salvarsan (which also caused other mishaps like the removal of limbs), and Neosalvarsan were not all effective enough.

The Public Health Services of America which was in charge of monitoring and finding out cures on diseases got a sponsor with Rosenwald Fund (an organization that promoted education and health care for African-American farmers) for research studies to identify the highest rate for Syphilis. As the research went on, the Rosenwald Fund's became incapable of paying for the expenses of the research resulting for them to stop. The PHS then went to Macon County, Alabama (with the highest rate for Syphilis) and partnered up with the Tuskegee Institute, which can be found there. The research was said to be about a study on 600 county men (399 with Syphilis and 201 without) for about 6-9 months.

Now the thing that is Appalling in this research is that there was a lot of deception, disrespect, racism, ignorance of free will, etc. For one, the 600 men did not even know what the research was all about; all they knew was that they would be promised free health care, medical exams, meals, and burial finances. Although, even if they were given burial expenses and promised free medical exams and health care, they never knew their diagnosis; they were also given very painful and unnecessary spinal taps that were performed in the study. Not only that but they didn't even get their individual consent. During that time, the consent of the government was already enough and not the individuals'. Some were also given racial discrimination as directly said by Dr. Clark, a Michigan Colleague that 'these negroes are very ignorant and easily influenced by things that would be of minor significance in a more intelligent group'. Some of the test subjects were illiterate for the purpose that it is easier for them to deceive and to be lured in. The research which was also said that it will only take 6-9 months took up at least 40 years! The study resulted to 128 men who died, 40 who infected their wives, and 19 who were born with congenital syphilis. The research did not only affect a small amount of number but up to 600 men; A lot who died, and a lot more who were never treated.

In 1945, Penicillin was discovered to be the medicine used for a lot of diseases and Syphilis was one of them. Throughout the entire research, penicillin was never considered as an option. Finally, after exposing the research to the world and the government called it 'ethically unjustified' the research stopped.

To finally close this essay, this research is one of the most unethical research to be conducted. A lot of deception, disrespect, etc. was done during this research and therefore resulting it to a lot of deaths and problems. Maybe if the research was done through the proper consent of the test subjects and if the researchers thought of better ways on how to conduct it (ethically) then it might have worked. Then again, they’ve done a lot of bad things which can never be done again.