Review the Tuskegee case study presented in the chapter, and give specific examples where each of the basic principles of health care ethics were compromised and sacrificed

Answer 1

The Tuskegee case involved research done in the United States of a population of rural black males from a southern state who had contracted syphilis. The patients were told that they were being treated, but, in fact, they were only being observed so that researchers could follow the full natural maturation of the disease. Much of this research was carried out after the advent of antibiotic treatment for the condition. It is generally felt that every one of the seven basic principles was literally infringed on. Autonomy—patients were lied to so no real autonomy was possible in their decision making. Veracity—patients were lied to in regard to what was being done. Beneficence—when treatment was possible, it was denied. Nonmaleficence—appropriate treatment was denied. Confidentiality—groups such as the draft board and the local medical association were given information regarding the patients in order to ensure that they were not treated. Justice—patients were not treated equally as other people with the similar condition. Role fidelity—The admonition that we must always "treat others as ends and not as means only" was not followed. Practitioners were pretending to be health care providers but really were doing (nonbeneficial/harmful to the patient) research.