tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6935102525342419091.post134986591364687438..comments2020-10-25T13:56:50.771-07:00Comments on Research Methods for Social Work Practice: The Tuskegee IncidentJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07062270122608109713noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6935102525342419091.post-78146925356162729392009-04-08T19:34:00.000-07:002009-04-08T19:34:00.000-07:00Marashia McCormick Original PostThe first couple o...Marashia McCormick Original Post<BR/><BR/>The first couple of times I read the NASW code of Ethics I was stunned. My initial reaction was, “Duh…do they really have to tell adult professionals to operate with such rational standards?” Episodes like the Tuskegee Incident are history’s reminder even adult helping professionals are capable of harming other human beings. <BR/>There are many instances in social work where simple answers are not available to resolve complex ethical issues. I think it’s great that the profession has decided to enforce standards like integrity, self determination, and informed consent. These standards provide a universal frame of reference for practitioners and outline expectations of behavior. Ethics, along with the establishment of Institutional Review Boards (IRBs), are designed to protect people from harmful, risky, and/or unethical research and practice. While the Code of Ethics and IRBs cannot guarantee ethical behavior, both are designed to prevent the likelihood humans being subject to cruelties like those that occurred in the Tuskegee Incident.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00243981757252268699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6935102525342419091.post-13000089343756313912009-04-07T18:34:00.000-07:002009-04-07T18:34:00.000-07:00Julia Rigsby reposnse to DeidreThankfully many act...Julia Rigsby reposnse to Deidre<BR/><BR/>Thankfully many actions have been taken in an effort to prevent any type of incident like this from ever happening again. The Institutional Review Board is one of them. We as social workers also have the NASW Code of Ethics to follow. We can only do our part and hope others are not being victimized, however, like Julie said people are being taken advantage of every day and don't even know it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6935102525342419091.post-21788784106732751352009-04-03T18:43:00.000-07:002009-04-03T18:43:00.000-07:00Response to Julie Lindsey by Shija BrooksI agree w...Response to Julie Lindsey by Shija Brooks<BR/><BR/>I agree we now know what “research gone bad” is. It makes you think how so many things could be done so wrong in one study. I think the best lesson learned from the study is what not to do when you are conducting research and also what things need to be done correctly when conducting research.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6935102525342419091.post-76440619524811166102009-04-03T18:39:00.000-07:002009-04-03T18:39:00.000-07:00Response to Malinda S. by Shija BrooksI agree I co...Response to Malinda S. by Shija Brooks<BR/><BR/>I agree I could not say what I would have done in those times also. The sharecroppers thought they would have a prosperous, successful, and healthy life with all the things they were offered as compensation for the study. They were illiterate and did not know any better that what they were approached with. I wonder if social workers were helping with study if things would have been different.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6935102525342419091.post-74442482259590423142009-04-01T19:16:00.000-07:002009-04-01T19:16:00.000-07:00Response by April Mills to Daphne ArnoldI complete...Response by April Mills to Daphne Arnold<BR/><BR/>I completely agree with your perspective on how horrific this situation was. It appalled me as well. I think you have some very logical and meaningful questions. These articles raised questions for me too. The articles even make me question our government as it is today. I realize that the government performs a lot research that we will never know about and a lot of it that we would probably not agree with ethically. However, there is a limit and I not only professional but also personally believe that every human life is invaluable. Unless an individual is fully aware of all of the details within a specific study that they are participating in they should not be subject to it even if the research may safe another life in the future.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6935102525342419091.post-74205951110560050402009-04-01T19:00:00.000-07:002009-04-01T19:00:00.000-07:00April Mills-Original PostIn my opinion, words can ...April Mills-Original Post<BR/><BR/>In my opinion, words can no even begin to describe the injustice that the participants in The Tuskegee Incident endured. No research is important enough to subject human being to such things. Luckily, we have the NASW Code of Ethics which clearly speaks against Social Workers performing any type of research in this manner. Furthermore, I would hope that any individual who obtains a degree in Social Work would not be interested in unethical research to the degree of actually harming humans regardless of their race, religion, social status, gender, sexual orientation, etc.<BR/> <BR/>Through the years I have heard that some African Americans fear that our government was in some way responsible for the AIDS epidemic. I have never directly spoken with someone who agrees with this theory. Therefore, I am not familiar with the details of the theory but after learning of The Tuskegee Incident I can see why someone, well, anyone would be suspicious of and fearful of our government. The government was aware of these actions and did nothing to protect the participants. Based on the history of our country and the discrimination that African Americans endure I can see how the injustice would occur years ago. But the fact that the victims did not get a formal apology from the government until President Clinton’s apology during his term in office is just ridiculous to me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6935102525342419091.post-49851954566294520422009-03-26T17:25:00.000-07:002009-03-26T17:25:00.000-07:00Response to Diane WatsonMany of us do not comprehe...Response to Diane Watson<BR/><BR/>Many of us do not comprehend how someone could justify treating people this way. It makes me think of deficiency theory that we studied in HBSE II. It seems that this theory could give some explanation as to why. Somewhere someone communicated to the researchers that the participants had something wrong with them. Granted this doesn’t excuse it or justify it, but just a possibility of the why behind it.Melinda Crouchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02530892671296713464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6935102525342419091.post-76900944519091774072009-03-26T12:53:00.000-07:002009-03-26T12:53:00.000-07:00Patricia FordResponse to Julie LindseyI also agree...Patricia Ford<BR/>Response to Julie Lindsey<BR/><BR/>I also agree this study is an excellent example of how not to conduct a study. It violated so many things it is hard to know where to begin. I did wonder why white males were not included in the study as well. I am glad they were not because it would mean more suffering. But I totally get your point....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6935102525342419091.post-66584860719143038292009-03-21T13:39:00.001-07:002009-03-21T13:39:00.001-07:00Response to Carrie WellsI say this exploitation of...Response to Carrie Wells<BR/>I say this exploitation of humans is a perfect example as to why social workers are needed to combat issues such as the Tuskegee Institute Experiment. Social workers are taught by trade and most possess an innate passion to respect the dignity and worth of a person, regardless of their economic and educational background and status. Malinda S.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6935102525342419091.post-51068127467684946362009-03-21T13:39:00.000-07:002009-03-21T13:39:00.000-07:00Response to ShijiI am amazed that the study contin...Response to Shiji<BR/>I am amazed that the study continued for so long. One of the comments from the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) was that the media was making a mountain out of a mole hill. What was the PHS thinking when they made that comment? Was it that it was only “darkies” involved and that their lives were insignificant. Malinda S.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6935102525342419091.post-53302267987417307082009-03-21T13:38:00.000-07:002009-03-21T13:38:00.000-07:00Knowledge of the Tuskegee Experiment coming to lig...Knowledge of the Tuskegee Experiment coming to light plays a huge part in African Americans not trusting the government and or European Americans. The “experiment” violated several ethical standards coming from a social work perspective. For starters, the experiment was conducted on illiterate sharecroppers who lacked the ability to comprehend what was happening to them even if informed consent was obtained, which it was not. The sharecroppers were denied self-determination as to opt out of the experiment. I am not aware of any social workers being involved in the experiment. There was a conflict of interest on the part of the federal government by way of the surgeon general. Part of the surgeon general’s role is to improve the public’s health not to turn a blind eye to such a human travesty. All of this aside, I have more questions than answers. I am concerned about the people that were affected that were not families of the participants. I would like to know the background as to how Macon County, Alabama was chosen for the experiment. I am having trouble understanding how so many blacks could not have a glimpse of something being “amiss” even if they could not tell what it was exactly. Why is it that the interviewer came forward when he did? As for the nurse, she would be considered part of the “Willie Lynch Theory” that I learned about from a friend. The Willie Lynch Theory is believed to have been created to undermine the trust between African Americans to keep them from coming together to defeat slavery, thus discrimination. I can see how the lack of trust in some African Americans in certain positions continues until this day, all in the name of providing an “opportunity” for a select few. Today, I wonder how many African Americans are in a position such as Nurse Eunice Rivers. It is much easier now to be critical; I do not know what I would have done, during that time, if I was faced with the same. Clearly, there was no one to stand up for the sharecroppers even after the passing of the Henderson Act of 1943 and the Declaration of Helenski in 1964. Malinda S.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6935102525342419091.post-4513403919288925992009-03-20T09:57:00.000-07:002009-03-20T09:57:00.000-07:00Orginal Post by: DeidreThe "Tuskegee Syphilis Expe...Orginal Post by: Deidre<BR/><BR/>The "Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment" is very in humane. It demonstrated how little respect there was for the 399 black men that suffered from this disease. The sad thing about this is that it was in the late stages and they were not told what they were been treated for. The doctor stated that he had no interest in these patients until they die. To be a doctor his licenses should have been revoked on the spot. I'm glad that the Institutional Review Board is set in place to establish ground rules on how research should be conducted. There were many ethical issuses principals broken toward these men. Another thing is why does it has to always be African Americans that get the bad in? I really hate that it has to be a race issue but it is what it is. I am thankful that the Civil Rights moment took place. It still does not justifiy how these men was treated. At the end of the experiment 28 men died directly from syphillis,100 died from related complications, 40 of their wives was infected and 19 of their children was born with congential syphillis. How much money could possible replace how these families were violated.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6935102525342419091.post-63035811669088471912009-03-19T20:29:00.000-07:002009-03-19T20:29:00.000-07:00Response to various comments by Misty MaconMany of...Response to various comments by Misty Macon<BR/><BR/>Many of us are upset, and many of us are saying this should not have taken place, there should have been imformed consent, or many other issues related to ethics. I completely agree with all of those, but I think that the true deep rooted issue is race and how people viewed African-American citizens at that time. Again, there was no mention of Caucasian men being treated or not treated in the article. Who knows if there was ever anyone else involved in this study. For anyone to look at this incident and say race was not a factor, I feel is a complete slap in the face to those who were basically murdered by our government.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6935102525342419091.post-20495769233328080562009-03-19T20:21:00.000-07:002009-03-19T20:21:00.000-07:00I do not really know where to start with this post...I do not really know where to start with this post. I have looked at what others wrote and am in total agreement with what most of everyone said. This was horrible, tragic, incomprehensible, awful, and any other word you could use to describe an injustice like this one. It is something that makes me ashamed in a way to live in a place that such atrocities were allowed to take place. There was no real science associated with this incident and there was no real reason for these men to be submitted to such treatment other than the color of their skin and their socioecomonic status. To think that we still have to discuss things like this today to prove that racism, oppression, and social injustice exists is ridiculous to me. The scary thing for me is that people seem to overlook injustices and say "oh that's just the way it is". Well, I for one am tired of that being "just the way it is" here, and want to show people that things can be different. Just today I had a conversation with an African-American female about some of her experiences growing up in Alabama and even as little as 5 years ago, she was discriminated against in such a way that she now has a real fear of police. Though this has nothing to do with IRBs or research, I think it is valid for this discussion. IRBs are important to prevent this type of treatment in the scientific/research word, but what is going to prevent it from the "everyday" world. I am proud to be a Social Work student and hope to continue making a difference in the lives of others and in overcoming oppression and racism.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6935102525342419091.post-13490264865268894052009-03-16T17:19:00.000-07:002009-03-16T17:19:00.000-07:00Response post to Daphne Arnold by Julie Lindsey:I ...Response post to Daphne Arnold by Julie Lindsey:<BR/><BR/>I agree with you, after reading about this study I see exactly why the Institutional Review Board is vital to conducting research. Like you, I questioned if there were any consequences for the actions of the doctors and nurses. I personally would not be surprised if these types of studies are still being conducted today, just not made known to the public. People in positions of authority are aware of who they can take advantage of. It is always the poor and underprivileged who suffer.JLindseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15094335666938296531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6935102525342419091.post-53745932905626371432009-03-16T12:46:00.000-07:002009-03-16T12:46:00.000-07:00Response Post to Melinda Lanier by Daphne ArnoldHe...Response Post to Melinda Lanier by Daphne Arnold<BR/><BR/>Hey Melinda,<BR/>I read your post and agree that the participants should have been told about the true nature of the experiment and that they should have signed consents to be used in this study. I think that there is one reason that these researchers and their many cohorts did not tell the truth and did not offer any consents for this study and it is because no one would have agreed to take part in this study. What person that is afflicted with a disease would consent to recieving no treatment so that the researchers could jugde how long it would take them to die from it? None that I can think of. I agree with you that they looked at the participants as sources of data instead of human beings and that is the biggest crime that was committed. This crime is a crime against humanity, not just againist a specific race. In my opinion, these researchers had no regard for the sanctity of human life, so why would they practice any ethics and values at all if they can not even value human life in the truest sense of the word. In order to treat someone ethically then you must first acutally envision them as being humans. As social workers, I think that we are offended by this type of act. These researchers were doctors and not social workers and we all know that they practice from the medical model instead of from the biopsychosocial model. I think that this fact should be weighed heavy in this conversation. As doctors they just want to cure symptoms, they don't care how it affects the person, their family, this society, or the world.MSWstudenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08974470531837686777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6935102525342419091.post-56239884132524842432009-03-15T21:44:00.000-07:002009-03-15T21:44:00.000-07:00Shanté’s response to Shija Brooks’ posting There w...Shanté’s response to Shija Brooks’ posting <BR/><BR/>There were multiple ethical violations during this “study”. Shija’s statement, “the investigators took advantage of a deprived socioeconomic situation” made me think of something I read in one of the articles. The article suggested racism. Was this why the participants received low levels of care, because they were African American, because they were illiterate? All participants of research should receive informed consent regardless of their cultural background. Otherwise it violates, both professional and personal, ethical values. I am very thankful for IRBs; they are conducive to research abiding the code of ethics.Tayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03164281684426915961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6935102525342419091.post-41051577898082689322009-03-14T08:58:00.000-07:002009-03-14T08:58:00.000-07:00Response to Patricia FordBy Denise ClevelandMs. Fo...Response to Patricia Ford<BR/>By Denise Cleveland<BR/><BR/>Ms. Ford wrote, "However, the implementation of the IRB can not erase the effects on the participants and the African American community."<BR/><BR/>I wholeheartedly agree to this statement. A class-action lawsuit was filed by survivors of the Tuskegee Incident. Their final payments were $40,000 for the egregious treatment they endured. What a sad pittance of compensation. This award was not provided until 1992. Even President Clinton's national apology to survivors on behalf of the government was not enough. By the time the apology was delivered - 1997 - only a few survivors remained. Both efforts were too little too late.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6935102525342419091.post-7112359250406123332009-03-14T08:43:00.000-07:002009-03-14T08:43:00.000-07:00Response to Daphne ArnoldBy: Denise ClevelandI al...Response to Daphne Arnold<BR/>By: Denise Cleveland<BR/><BR/>I also wonder about what happened to the others involved in this study. Ms. Arnold pointed out that only a few people were named, but this study was large enough to have required many personnel. Add to the fact that it lasted for four decades, there were obviously many individuals involved. As an example, when the HealthSouth investigation was going on in the state of Alabama, investigations were conducted from Richard Scrushy to accounting clerks. I believe that this kind of scrutiny needed to occur in the Tuskegee Incident.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6935102525342419091.post-14263365598335172882009-03-13T21:09:00.000-07:002009-03-13T21:09:00.000-07:00What are the Social Work ethical concerns?Research...What are the Social Work ethical concerns?<BR/><BR/>Research has its place in Social Work, but it is not the goal of Social Work. Through the Tuskegee Experiment, research became more important than human life. The “Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment” clearly violates the ethical principles outlined in the NASW code of ethics which are as follows: service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence. The research experience could have easily appeared to the subjects to be reaching out in service, fighting for social justice, showing concern for the subjects and their relationship, practicing integrity and performing competently. The free medical service and treatment for their “bad blood” may have appeared to be service but was sadly the opposite. This experiment socially oppressed people rather than fighting for social justice. It was corrupt, lacking integrity. The participants were blatantly lied to at times. The study didn’t value human life or human relationships. The fact that the study lasted for 40 years is an indicator that it was run without competence. <BR/><BR/>What should have been done differently?<BR/><BR/>When I begin to think about what should have been done differently in the study, my first thought is that it should have never been done at all. If the Public Health Service wanted to find out information about people with syphilis after their death, they should have created an informed consent agreeing to release information about their autopsies after death.<BR/><BR/>If the experiment was performed, an informed consent should have been used and the researchers should have been honest with the participants about what services they were receiving. The doctors also should have had more interest in the patients than the results. Science was elevated above the value of human life, which is not acceptable among social workers. The doctors performing the research viewed the participants as data, rather than human. This aspect is something that if approached differently would have altered the entire experiment. If the doctors cared about the patients, they would have been honest with them about the intent of the experiment. <BR/><BR/>If the doctors would have been honest, I don’t believe that the experiment would have ever taken place. If the participants truly understood, what was going on they most likely would have refused to be a part of the study, especially when penicillin was discovered to be a cure.Melinda Crouchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02530892671296713464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6935102525342419091.post-91268310719316895482009-03-13T21:05:00.000-07:002009-03-13T21:05:00.000-07:00The Tuskegee Incident went against all ethical pri...The Tuskegee Incident went against all ethical principles we hold as social worker's. The men who were a part of this experiment were being mistreated and were uninformed. Not only were the men affected, but their wifes and children as well, as the disease spread due to lack of treatment. As social workers we are to value service, social justice, dignity and worth of a person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence. The doctors and nurses were doing a disservice to these men and were taking advantage of them because they had no from of insurance and had little income. The men in the experiment were not respected and as it has been said before were treated like animals. Fortunately, regulations for conducting an experiment have changed and individuals must give informed consent when choosing to participate. Even though they may not know which group, experiment or control, they may be in they are aware of what they are signing up for. These men of Macon County had no clue and were fully taken advantage of.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6935102525342419091.post-29862639044221510992009-03-13T16:09:00.000-07:002009-03-13T16:09:00.000-07:00Response to ILOVEKIDS. I am not even sure horrifi...Response to ILOVEKIDS. I am not even sure horrific and cruel even describes how unethical this experiment was. You made a comment at the end of your post that this experiment not only affected the lives of men involved, but it made a negative impact on their familes as well. I can not imagine how these families felt or still feel about what happened to their family member. It would be very difficult to forgive someone for such a horrible injustice.Diane Watsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10293676857152016523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6935102525342419091.post-51224235911414708122009-03-13T16:01:00.000-07:002009-03-13T16:01:00.000-07:00The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment is just almost un...The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment is just almost unbelievable. I really can't imagine anyone thinking that it would be alright to treat any human being the way these individuals were treated. They were treated as if they were animals and not humans. They had no rights whatsoever. They were not even told what was going on, they were only given what they thought was free medical care for a blood disorder, free meals and a burial policy. What amazes me is that it went on for 40 years before someone realized how unethical it was. I know that the IRB board makes researchers go through hoops in order to have their particular research approved but when you read about the complete unethical experiment such as this one you understand why that board is so important. Without the board's regulation then mistreatment of subjects would probably occur, maybe not to such extreme, but it would happen.Diane Watsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10293676857152016523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6935102525342419091.post-21122122457562720142009-03-13T15:25:00.000-07:002009-03-13T15:25:00.000-07:00Response to Daphne Arnold's post by Kristi MaddoxI...Response to Daphne Arnold's post by Kristi Maddox<BR/><BR/>I would certainly hope that research such as this is not still happening today. However, if working with vulnerable clients I can see where it could still happen, even today. Information that is gathered is to be turned into the IRBs and I am sure that there are times when it is "altered" in order to gain the desired outcome. Let's hope this does not happen very often though...but I am with you and wonder if there are still instances such as this. Hopefully the oversight and supervision is close and unethical practices are at least very limited.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06000869770008625336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6935102525342419091.post-43591853983386133072009-03-13T15:17:00.000-07:002009-03-13T15:17:00.000-07:00Original Post by Kristi MaddoxIn reading about the...Original Post by Kristi Maddox<BR/><BR/>In reading about the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, it is evident why institutional review boards are needed. Several ethical violations took place during the project that hopefully would not occur today since there is now closer oversight of research studies. The participants were lured into participating in the study by being promised a free medical examination, free transportation, and food. During that time there were concerns about “bad blood” and most of the participants did not have access to medical care prior to this offer. Due to the rumored concerns about “bad blood” many agreed to accept the free health screenings. Upon their participation in the study, they were unknowingly then infected with syphilis. They were then given little to no treatment for their conditions and the U.S. Public Health Service was told to deny treating any of the participants who came seeking help. The ethical violations were that the participants were not informed of the truth about the study, they were harmed through the study, and then they were refused treatment for the disease.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06000869770008625336noreply@blogger.com