Tuskegee Medical Ethics Case Study

1. Why is Tuskegee, Alabama important in the history of American bioethics?
Tuskegee, Alabama is important in the history of American bioethics because it catalyzed the formation of written, mandatory ethical principles. To explain, prior to this event, there was a general consensus amongst researchers that Americans will not overstep the bounds of research, not like the Nazis did. However, the Tuskegee Syphilis studies made it apparent that unless there are core ethical principles to follow, America might head in the same direction as Nazi Germany. The researchers in the Syphilis studies did not receive informed consent from the participants, and withheld treatment that was available. As this event received publicity, the US government knew it had to respond. Thus came the birth of bioethics, and the core ethical principles (Belmont Report) researchers must follow: Autonomy, Justice, Beneficence. Along with the principles, the IRB, a committee that approves and monitors research, was also established. This is why Tuskegee, Alabama is important.
2. Who was Carrie Buck, and
He first-handedly witnessed the aftermath of Nazi concentration camps, he treated some of the victims. Upon witnessing the evil science Germany practiced, he wrote the Nuremberg Code. The Nuremberg code was a set of ethical principles for human experimentation. Furthermore, by studying how the German government and Nazi scientists justified their actions, Alexander became concerned about the “rational utility”. Alexander argued that science under a dictatorship constrains ethical and moral duties to the philosophy of the government. To explain, by basing all moral duties off of rationality or reasoning, a tyrannical government can always justify their scientific practices. Alexander was concerned about this because if countries base their moral philosophy with the same reasoning, they are headed to the direction of Nazi