PSY 301 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Institutional Review Board, Informed Consent, Belmont Report
Document Summary
Tuskegee syphilis study illustrated three major ethical violations. 600 men were brought into a study saying it was special free medical services. 400 men already had syphilis, and 200 were infected. They were told they were getting treatment but in reality the scientists were seeing what happened if it went untreated. Treatments at the time were dangerous and had many side effects so they wanted to see if anyone could survive long term without. They even lied to the men when the army sent them after recruitment because they had syphilis. In 1943, penicillin was approved to cure syphilis but the scientists hide this from the participants. An employee, peter buxtun, eventually became concerned enough to tell the press and the public stopped it. At this point, many men got sick, dozens died, and some even infected their parents and therefore their children. In 1974, clinton issued a formal apology and all participants got a settlement.
