The History Of Research Involving Human Subjects
The History Of Research Involving Human Subjects Includes Instances Of
The history of research involving human subjects includes instances of unethical practices and, consequently, the advent of guidelines and regulations to ensure the protection of human subjects’ participation in research. Prepare a 2- to 3-page report (double-space, excluding title page and references) on the major milestones in the history of ethical issues in research. Include at least 3 milestones. A milestone can be an unethical research event or a regulation guiding research with human subjects. For each milestone write a brief paragraph.
Include at least three references. Use APA style guidelines (No abstract is required).
Paper For Above instruction
The history of research involving human subjects is marred by unethical practices that have led to significant reforms aimed at protecting individuals participating in research. Several milestones mark the progression from exploitation and unethical experimentation to the establishment of rigorous ethical standards governing human research. This essay discusses three pivotal milestones: the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, the development of the Nuremberg Code, and the Belmont Report.
One of the most notorious breaches of ethical standards in research history is the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, conducted by the U.S. Public Health Service from 1932 to 1972. This study involved the observation of untreated syphilis in African American men who believed they were receiving free health care. The researchers deliberately withheld penicillin, the standard treatment discovered in the 1940s, to observe the natural progression of the disease. The unethical nature of this study, particularly the lack of informed consent and deception used in recruiting participants, sparked widespread outrage when exposed and became a catalyst for the reform of research ethics (Jones, 1993).
Another significant milestone was the development of the Nuremberg Code in 1947. This set of ethical principles emerged in response to the horrifying medical experiments conducted by Nazi doctors during World War II. The Nuremberg Trials prosecuted several physicians for crimes against humanity, highlighting the necessity for ethical standards in human experimentation. The Code emphasized voluntary consent, the necessity of avoiding unnecessary suffering, and the obligation to terminate experiments if they posed undue risk to participants (Mappes & DeGrazia, 2018). It established foundational principles that influenced subsequent regulations and ethical guidelines globally.
The Belmont Report, published in 1979 by the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research, represents another milestone that significantly shaped research ethics. It identified three core principles: respect for persons, beneficence, and justice. These principles underpin current research regulations and safeguard participants’ rights, emphasizing informed consent, assessment of risks and benefits, and equitable selection of subjects. The Belmont Report served as the basis for federal regulations governing research, including the Common Rule, which provides comprehensive protections for human subjects in federally funded research (National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research, 1979).
In conclusion, the history of research involving human subjects illustrates a trajectory from unethical practices to structured regulatory frameworks designed to protect participants. The Tuskegee Syphilis Study revealed gross abuses, prompting reforms like the Nuremberg Code, which established foundational ethical principles. The Belmont Report further refined these principles into actionable guidelines that continue to govern ethical research today. These milestones demonstrate the importance of ethical vigilance and the ongoing need to balance scientific advancement with respect for human dignity and rights.
References
Jones, J. H. (1993). Bad blood: The Tuskegee Syphilis Study, 1932-1972. Free Press.
Mappes, T., & DeGrazia, D. (2018). Biomedical ethics. McGraw-Hill Education.
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. U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.