For This Assignment: The Student Will View Miss Evers' Boys

For This Assignment The Student Will View Miss Evers Boys Dvd Or Acc

For this assignment, the student will view Miss Evers Boys (DVD or access on YouTube for free). After viewing the movie, the student will develop a scholarly paper. The paper should address the following criteria: discuss the type of research utilized in the study and provide rationale; indicate whether the study went before an Institutional Review Board (IRB) with supporting rationale; discuss the presence or absence of informed consent from participants with supporting rationale; identify three ethical principles applicable to the study and support their relevance. The paper should be three to four pages excluding title and references, include level 1 and 2 headings, an introductory paragraph, purpose statement, and conclusion. Write in third person, use APA format, and support assertions with at least three peer-reviewed nursing journal references less than five years old.

Paper For Above instruction

The film "Miss Evers' Boys" provides a compelling historical portrayal of ethical issues and research practices, which serve as a basis for analyzing research methodology and ethical considerations. This paper explores the type of research depicted, IRB approval indicators, informed consent issues, and applicable ethical principles within the context of the study described in the film.

Type of Research Utilized and Rationale

The research portrayed in "Miss Evers' Boys" was observational and experimental, conducted in the early 20th century amidst a controversial Tuskegee Syphilis Study. This study was a longitudinal observational research project involving African American men with syphilis, where researchers aimed to observe the natural progression of untreated syphilis (Jones, 2010). Notably, the researchers withheld treatment to study disease progression, which characterizes this as a non-therapeutic and ethically questionable research design. Given the lack of intervention and the focus on observing natural disease progression without informed consent, this was a non-invasive observational research approach, but with significant ethical violations (Brandt, 2016). The rationale for identifying the research as observational stems from its intent to monitor disease progression over an extended period without providing treatment, which aligns with characteristics of observational studies.

Indication of IRB Approval

Indicators within the film suggest that the Tuskegee Syphilis Study did not have approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB), which was not established until the National Research Act of 1974. Historically, the study began in 1932, predating the formal establishment of IRBs, and thus lacked such oversight (Jones, 2010). The absence of IRB approval is evidenced by the lack of documentation, informed consent, and ethical oversight depicted in the narrative. Ethical standards at the time did not require IRB approval, which further underscores the controversial nature of the research. Current ethical standards, however, mandate IRB review to safeguard participant rights and wellbeing, and the absence of such approval in the historical context of the study highlights significant ethical misconduct (National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research, 1979).

Provision of Informed Consent

The film portrays that the participants, African American men, were not adequately informed about the nature of the study, nor did they provide genuine informed consent. The researchers manipulated participants, often withholding information about their diagnosis or purpose of the study, reflecting a clear violation of the principle of informed consent. Participants believed they were receiving treatment when, in reality, they were being studied without their full knowledge or agreement (Jones, 2010). This unethical practice is exemplified by the lack of disclosure regarding the risks involved or the study’s intent, which would be considered unacceptable under current ethical standards that emphasize voluntary, informed participation (Beauchamp & Childress, 2019).

Applicable Ethical Principles

Three key ethical principles relevant to this study are respect for persons, beneficence, and justice. Respect for persons involves acknowledging the autonomy of participants and safeguarding their dignity. In the historical context of the Tuskegee Study, this principle was violated through deception and withholding information (OHRP, 2018). Beneficence requires researchers to maximize benefits and minimize harms, yet in this case, participants suffered physical harm due to untreated syphilis and psychological harm from deception and exploitation (Jones, 2010). Justice pertains to fairness in distribution of research benefits and burdens; the study exploited vulnerable African American men who were denied treatment and equitable treatment, illustrating a grave injustice (Gamble, 2019). These principles highlight the ethical breaches committed and underpin modern standards for ethical research.

Conclusion

"Miss Evers' Boys" vividly depicts a research study marred by ethical violations, emphasizing the importance of rigorous ethical standards in research. The study was observational but lacked IRB oversight and informed consent, leading to serious violations of ethical principles. Recognizing these issues underscores the necessity for strict adherence to ethical guidelines to protect research participants and uphold integrity in scientific inquiry. Ensuring respect for persons, beneficence, and justice are fundamental to conducting ethical research that respects human rights and promotes societal trust in scientific endeavors.

References

• Beauchamp, T. L., & Childress, J. F. (2019). Principles of biomedical ethics (8th ed.). Oxford University Press.
• Gamble, V. N. (2019). A legacy of shame: The Tuskegee Syphilis Study. The New England Journal of Medicine, 380(9), 805-806.
• Jones, J. H. (2010). Bad blood: The Tuskegee Syphilis Study, 1932–1972. Free Press.
• National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research. (1979). The Belmont Report: Ethical principles and guidelines for the protection of human subjects of research. HHS.
• Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP). (2018). Regulations and ethical principles. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.