From 1932 to 1972, a study called “The Study of Untreated Syphilis in the Negro Male” was sponsored by the U.S. government (About the USPHS Syphilis Study). Syphilis is a disease that is caused by a bacteria that is transmitted through sexual contact or from mothers to children at birth. Syphilis doesn’t go away, however it can stay dormant for years or even decades (Reverby). When the study first began in Macon County, Alabama, there were no proven treatments of syphilis (About the USPHS Syphilis Study). The purpose of the study was “to record the natural history of syphilis in blacks (Reverby).
600 men were involved in the study. 201 of which were not infected with syphilis and used as a control group (About the USPHS Syphilis Study). The PHS only selected male subjects because it was easier to give a history of the visible sores. The scientists also feared that pregnant women would transmit the disease to their children. These subjects were mostly poor, illiterate sharecroppers (Reverby). During the study, the subjects were given rubs, tonics, aspirins, and spinal taps that were all intentionally …show more content…
For example, “When penicillin became widely available in the 1950s as the preferred treatment for syphilis, the men did not receive therapy (Brandt)”. The men were also told that the painful spinal taps, a procedure in which spinal fluid is removed, was a “back shot”. The scientists also ensured that none of the subject got drafted because their syphilis would have been detected and treated (Reverby). In addition, local doctors were instructed to withhold treatment information from the subjects. All of these actions violated their right to informed consent (Brandt). Because the doctors “withheld adequate treatment… [and caused] needless pain and suffering (U.S. Public Health Service Study at Tuskegee)”. Additionally, by 1972, between 28 and 100 of the subjects had died
600 men were involved in the study. 201 of which were not infected with syphilis and used as a control group (About the USPHS Syphilis Study). The PHS only selected male subjects because it was easier to give a history of the visible sores. The scientists also feared that pregnant women would transmit the disease to their children. These subjects were mostly poor, illiterate sharecroppers (Reverby). During the study, the subjects were given rubs, tonics, aspirins, and spinal taps that were all intentionally …show more content…
For example, “When penicillin became widely available in the 1950s as the preferred treatment for syphilis, the men did not receive therapy (Brandt)”. The men were also told that the painful spinal taps, a procedure in which spinal fluid is removed, was a “back shot”. The scientists also ensured that none of the subject got drafted because their syphilis would have been detected and treated (Reverby). In addition, local doctors were instructed to withhold treatment information from the subjects. All of these actions violated their right to informed consent (Brandt). Because the doctors “withheld adequate treatment… [and caused] needless pain and suffering (U.S. Public Health Service Study at Tuskegee)”. Additionally, by 1972, between 28 and 100 of the subjects had died