MLAB 2360 Clinical I
 

MLAB 2360 CLINICAL I - CLINICAL/MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNICIAN

Bioethics

Objectives

  1. Compare and contrast the differences between the designs of a study-in-nature and a standard experiment.
  2. Define "paternalism".
  3. Describe the ethical responsibilities of medical researchers
  4. Describe the medical responsibilities of medical researchers
  5. Compare and contrast past and current federal policies to protect human subjects
  6. State the legal recourse for abused human subjects of research
  7. Discuss whistleblowing to expose unethical activities
  8. Describe the transmission and natural history of syphilis
  9. State the treatment regimens for syphilis
  10. Describe the role of the media in exposing Tuskegee story

Overview:  A Case Study of the Tuskegee Syphilis Project

In 1932 the US Public Health Service initiated an experiment in Macon County, Alabama, in and around the county seat of Tuskegee, to determine the natural course of untreated, latent syphilis in black males. In late July of 1972 Jean Heller of the Associated Press broke the story.

The Tuskegee Study, as the experiment had come to be called, involved a substantial number of men: 399 who had syphilis and an additional 201 who were free of the disease chosen to serve as controls. All of the syphilitic men were in the late stage of the disease when the study began. By the time the study was exposed in 1972, and ended on November 16th of the same year, 28 men had died of syphilis, 100 others were dead due to syphilis related complications, at least 40 wives had been infected and 19 children had contracted the disease at birth.

Under examination by the press the Public Health Service was not able to locate a formal protocol for the experiment. It was later learned that one had never existed; procedures had simply evolved. The basic procedures performed were routine blood testing and autopsies to supplement the information that was obtained through clinical examination. The fact that only men who had late, so called tertiary syphilis, were selected for the study indicated that the investigators were eager to learn more about the serious complications that result during the final phase of the disease.


Carefully review the information at the following web site:

http://sciencecases.lib.buffalo.edu/cs/files/2-bad_blood.pdf

http://www.brown.edu/Courses/Bio_160/Projects2000/Ethics/TUSKEGEESYPHILISSTUDY.html

Other Resources:

http://www.brown.edu/Courses/Bio_160/Projects2000/Ethics/TUSKEGEESYPHILISSTUDY.html
http://www.onlineethics.org/CMS/edu/precol/scienceclass/sectone/cs3.aspx
http://highschoolbioethics.georgetown.edu/units/cases/unit3_7.html
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0762136.html

INSTRUCTIONS

After reviewing the information answer the following questions.  Copy/past the questions into a word processing document, answer and submit through CLINICAL I assignments.

TIME REQUIREMENT

Careful review of the materials should take approximately 1.5 - 2 hours, answering the questions should take about 1 hour. I expect all aspects of each question to be addressed in an inciteful, thoughtful manner.

STUDY QUESTIONS

1. Carefully analyze this case. When you examine the paper and the appendices, what information appears to have been gained from this study? That is, what kind of argument can be made for the benefits of the study?

2. What do you believe were the motives for the people to become involved in the study, specifically: The subjects? The PHS personnel? The Tuskegee staff? The Macon County physicians? Nurse Rivers?

3. What kind of criticisms can you offer of this study?

4. What were the factors underlying the cessation of the project?

5. Could this project (or one similar to it involving AIDS or radiation effects) be conducted today?