The Tuskegee Experiment

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses the 1930 United States Public Health Service's (PHS) study on the long-term effects of untreated syphilis, known as the Tuskegee experiment. The paper reveals the shocking ethical and
human rights violations and compares them to the horrific experiments conducted by the Nazis on concentration camp prisoners in the Holocaust. The paper notes that this study was authorized,
administrated and perpetuated by the highest levels of U.S. government. The paper discusses how, ironically, this experiment was practically worthless scientifically.

Outline:
The Tuskegee Experiments
Scientific Value
Ethical Analysis

From the Paper:

"In 1930, the United States Public Health Service (PHS) initiated a large study into the causes and treatments of syphilis and gonorrhea, which had to be substantially reduced in size and expense once the Great Depression took hold of the country shortly thereafter. Since insufficient funding was available for the original study, PHS officials scaled back the original study in 1932 and shifted its focus from treating the diseases to simply studying the long-term effects of untreated syphilis (Lehrer 1997)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Brunner, B (2006) The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment. Retrieved February 14, 2008 from the Tuskegee University website, at:http://www.tuskegee.edu/Global/Story.asp?s=1207586
• Guttenplan, D.D. (2001) The Holocaust On Trial. New York: W.W. Norton & Co.
• Lehrer, J. (1997) Online Focus: An Apology 65 Years Late (transcript). Retrieved February 14, 2008 from the PBS Online News Hour website, at:http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health/may97/tuskegee_5-16.html

More papers on The Tuskegee Experiment:

• Term Paper # 110211 : "Medical Ethics and the Tuskegee Syphilis Study"
• Term Paper # 107518 : "Tuskegee Experiment"
• Analytical Essay # 29956 : "The Tuskegee Syphilis Study"

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