Question

Which of the following was an example of a major ethical mistake in the history of social research:

Answer 1

Answer:

The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment

Explanation:

The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment was a social research that sought to find out the natural history of syphilis, with the purpose of justifying treatment programs for blacks.

Termed as “Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis in the Negro Male.” It started in 1932, and lasted till 1972, when it was discovered that the reasearch was conducted without the benefit of patients’ informed consent.

Following a governmental review of the study, it was concluded that, the subjects involved in the research had been misled and had not been given all the facts required to provide informed consent, hence, the study was considered to be "ETHICALLY UNJUSTIFIED" that is, the knowledge acquired was minute when compared with the risks the study posed for its subjects.

Therefore, The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment was an example of a major ethical mistake in the history of social research.