Tuskegee Study Violations

A study known as "The Tuskegee Study" S. (2015, July 31) was conducted for forty years (U.S. Public Health, 2017), on the progression of untreated Syphilis in the African American population. It was believed that their bodies were inferior to whites and that the disease would act differently in their bodies. This author feels that the study was unnecessary, heartbreaking and unethical. The Belmont Report lists "respect for others, beneficence, and justice" (Protections, O. F.,2016) as the essentials of ethics. All of these aspects were violated during the Tuskegee Study. Two specific areas that these men were denied where the respect for persons through autonomy and beneficence. As medical professionals, we vow to "do no harm." These

The Belmont Report states "that persons with diminished autonomy are entitled to protection." (Protections, O. F.,2016.) The men that were part of "The Tuskegee Study" lacked the knowledge to understand their situation and medical needs. This author feels that they may not have lacked the capacity to understand but that they never were given the opportunity to understand because they were never taught on their level. All patients have the right to have their medical information provided to them in terms that they can understand. Nurses are supposed to be patient advocates and we must advocate and assist in educating our patients. This is so important since many patients are their own caretakers and need to have the knowledge and tools to care for

The Belmont Study says that a goal of beneficence is to "maximize possible harms" (Protections, O. F.,2016.) The Tuskegee Study only worried about the benefits that they thought they were going to learn from their research. The harms of the study were life-threatening and caused death for many of the patients. The supporters of the study could argue that without the study they would not have gathered data on the progression of Syphilis on a person's organs as it progresses. Also, upon death, an autopsy could be performed to see the total damage from the untreated disease. All of these arguments were made in the film "Miss Evers' Boys" (S.,2015 .) Overall, none of these things are relevant since the disease never has to progress to this point. These patients could have been cured and whenever treatment became readily available it should have been offered. In conclusion, this author strongly opposed "The Tuskegee Study." 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