PSYC207 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Belmont Report, Syphilis, Penicillin
9 Feb 2017
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Alabama (40 years: 1932- 1972: 600 men infected with syphilis, 200 men without syphilis. Study of the effects of untreated syphilis on men"s health o(cid:448)er the lo(cid:374)g ter(cid:373), (cid:271)e(cid:272)ause current treatments were ineffective and risky. Treated as experimental subjects rather than patients. Withheld information about illness status: bad blood. (cid:863) Lied about supplyi(cid:374)g (cid:862)spe(cid:272)ial free treatment. (cid:863: painful, invasive procedures. Withheld/denied treatment (penicillin- 1943) proven to cure syphilis. Three kinds of ethics violations (tuskegee syphilis study) The men were not treated respectfully: lied about the nature of study, withheld information (illness status and cure), no informed consent, coercion with money. The men were harmed: dangerous tests, not treatment given. The researchers targeted a disadvantaged social group: syphilis affects all ethnicities and social backgrounds, but study targeted low. Extreme-stress and anxiety-inducing: continue to shock unresponsive learner until 450-volts. Potential lasting harmful effects: debriefing may not have helped. Balancing risk to participants vs. benefits of knowledge.
