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Miss Evers Boys Analysis

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David Feldshuh play, Miss Evers Boys depicts a fictionalized tale regarding the Tuskegee study. By analyzing the actions pertaining to the medical practitioners in the play, we can not only see that Feldshuh argues the dangers observed when physicians omit the truth from their patients regarding treatment, but also that strict adherence to standard medical conduct and the focus on the benefit of a greater good dehumanizes patients leading to outcomes that are parallel to those observed in Nazi Germany. Feldshuh characterizes the medical practitioners as possess vocations or jobs with strong connotations on adhering to the standard medical practices of the time. Nurse Evers’s first lines involve her reciting an oath, vocalizing the ideals …show more content…

Doctor Douglas, understood that the treatment that both Brodus and Nurse Evers envisioned for their patients was impractical, given funding and resources. Douglas mentions, “A study could be created and carried out...And it would be the most important study of its kind ever conducted” (40), a statement that is important given that it demonstrates Douglas’s focus on the greater good. Douglas in describing the study reveals he has given less importance to the patients in the study, suggesting that their sacrifice will assist the general population. This in addition to acknowledging the idea that the Tuskegee Study would allow for resources to continue treatment for the patients, is intended to coax Brodus and Nurse Evers in participating in the study. Feldshuh includes Douglas’s description towards the importance of the study to signify the ease of justifying a cause; however it is intentional that Doctor Douglas does not reveal the true purpose of the study to the patients. Douglas has effectively begun dehumanizing the patients, he does not think the patients as being capable of understanding the importance of the study, and the risks associated. No efforts towards discussing the study or treatment are made with the patients, and Nurse Evers by supporting the study begins compromising her oath and her position as a nurse, as indicated by her …show more content…

Nurse Evers treats the patients with ineffective treatment to allow for the study to continue, essentially causing intentional harm towards them. Yet Feldshuh does not characterize Nurse Evers as cruel for allowing for the patients such as Willie to suffer from syphilis. Nurse Evers is characterized as a passionate and caring nurse, a nurse that only follows her superior’s orders for an outcome that will benefit all. Without the study the patients would have had received no treatment whatsoever for syphilis. However, by lying to the patients regarding the study, such as omitting the truth regarding “backshots”, all applicable practitioners in the study have marginalized their patients, and have dismissed their opinions and concerns. All medical practitioners in the study essentially allow harm to come for the patients solely for the benefit of documenting the effects of the disease, with Nurse Evers attempting to sooth the patients from discouraging them in leaving the study. Feldshuh intends to draw a parallel towards Nazi Germany in regards to how atrocities such as the study can occur, as noted when the doctors and Evers intentionally begin to discourage the men from proper

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These men were not treated as humans with rights and their health was not made a priority to the medical professional carrying for them. The data on the progression of Syphilis was not worth what it cost to so many men. It is a shame that a medical study was promoted in such an unethical manner and that these men trusted the treatment that was being provided. Nursing is an honor and a trusted role that should be treated as such in all of our

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I believe an unethical issue arises when they convince the men to join the study because they are so uneducated. Miss Evers tried to use terms that the men could follow with ease. In the time period in which the movie takes place, it was very common for African American males to drop out of school in order to support and provide for their family. Miss Evers offered the minimal amount of information as possible in order to convince the men to join the study. She would say the men had “bad blood” instead of saying exactly what syphilis was.

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They were promised free medical care, and told they were being treated for "bad blood" (Kronenwetter, 2023). The scientists lied to their participants and told them they were being treated for a disease they didn’t even have. They manipulated them by telling the participants that they would get free medical care after participating in the study. The participants did not know they will be given the syphilis disease.

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