Ethics case studies

• Describe what happened in the tuskegee experiment

  There was no initial treatment for syphilis.

  The aim of the study was to determine damage caused by untreated syphilis via autopsies.

  Once penicillin was discovered as a treatment for syphilis they told the participants that they were indeed being treated, but did not treat them.
• When was the tuskegee experiment

  1932 - 1972
• What are the consequences of the tuskegee experiment

  Many died, but those still alive have the medical bills paid for.
• What race was affected by the tuskegee experiment

  African-Americans
• Who was the 'father' of gynecology

  J. Marion Sims
• When did J. Marion Sims make his discoveries

  19th century
• Describe the ethical issues of the tuskegee experiment

  • Informed consent was not received [Autonomy]
  • Deontology says its unethical [Lied to]
  • Utilitarianism says its unethical [More harm than good]
  • Virtue ethics says its unethical [Assumed that black people do not want treatment]
  • Broke Non-maleficence and beneficence [People died]
  • Broke justice [The benefits and risks were not fairly distributed]
• Describe J. Marion Sims' work

  He operated on black female slaves multiple times without anaesthesia
• What does ethics say about J. Marion sims' work

  Deontology, Beneficence and non-maleficence say it is unethical as he did not use anaesthesia.

  Virtue ethics says it is wrong as he had racist thinking that black people can handle more pain.

  They were not provided with Autonomy as they did not have the right to choose.

  It was not just because the risks and benefits were not fairly distributed.
• Describe the WW2 Nazi experimentation

  They experimented without consent on people in labour camps.