Willowbrook Conflict Between Research and Ethics
Running head: WILLOWBROOK CONFLICT BETWEEN RESEARCH AND ETHICS
Willowbrook Conflict Between Research and Ethics
July 05, 2010
Willowbrook Conflict Between Research and Ethics
The Willowbrook State School for children with mental retardation became notorious for and a prime example of a conflict between research and ethics when the details of a research project and the treatment of the residents. Willowbrook initially opened as a new hospital serving WWII veterans however this changed when in 1951, “the hospital was established as the Willowbrook State School for people suffering from mental disabilities” (Starogannis & Hill, 2008, p. 87). Willowbrook continued to serve as a fronted rehabilitation facility for the mentally developmentally delayed from 1956 -1971. Residents of the facility were subjected to more than rehabilitation as purported in the name of the facility. Mistreatment, terror, and even traumatic events have occurred within the walls of this school and documentation of many of the acts exists. The hepatitis study involved the residents of Willowbrook and the topic of the conflict between research and ethics.
The research conducted at Willowbrook State School for children with mental retardation began in 1956 and involved the residents and administration of a live hepatitis virus to those selected or entered the research project. “Hepatitis studies were conducted at the Willowbrook State School for children with mental retardation from 1956 – 1971 because Hepatitis was a major problem at Willowbrook. Given the unsanitary conditions that the children lived in, it was virtually inevitable that children would contract Hepatitis” (Ethics in Mental Health Research [EMHR], n.d.). Consent obtained for the research project came about as a study described and explained to participants however many were enrolled into the study as the experimental area of the facility were the only spaces available in an area in which parents or legal guardians
Willowbrook Conflict Between Research and Ethics
July 05, 2010
Willowbrook Conflict Between Research and Ethics
The Willowbrook State School for children with mental retardation became notorious for and a prime example of a conflict between research and ethics when the details of a research project and the treatment of the residents. Willowbrook initially opened as a new hospital serving WWII veterans however this changed when in 1951, “the hospital was established as the Willowbrook State School for people suffering from mental disabilities” (Starogannis & Hill, 2008, p. 87). Willowbrook continued to serve as a fronted rehabilitation facility for the mentally developmentally delayed from 1956 -1971. Residents of the facility were subjected to more than rehabilitation as purported in the name of the facility. Mistreatment, terror, and even traumatic events have occurred within the walls of this school and documentation of many of the acts exists. The hepatitis study involved the residents of Willowbrook and the topic of the conflict between research and ethics.
The research conducted at Willowbrook State School for children with mental retardation began in 1956 and involved the residents and administration of a live hepatitis virus to those selected or entered the research project. “Hepatitis studies were conducted at the Willowbrook State School for children with mental retardation from 1956 – 1971 because Hepatitis was a major problem at Willowbrook. Given the unsanitary conditions that the children lived in, it was virtually inevitable that children would contract Hepatitis” (Ethics in Mental Health Research [EMHR], n.d.). Consent obtained for the research project came about as a study described and explained to participants however many were enrolled into the study as the experimental area of the facility were the only spaces available in an area in which parents or legal guardians