Tuskegee Syphilis Study

The Tuskegee Syphilis Study (pronounced: tus-kee-gee sif-uh-lis stuhd-ee) was a notorious clinical study conducted between 1932 and 1972 by the United States Public Health Service and the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama.

Etymology

The term "Tuskegee Syphilis Study" is derived from the location of the study, the Tuskegee Institute, and the disease that was being studied, syphilis.

Overview

The study was designed to observe the natural progression of untreated syphilis in rural African-American men under the guise of receiving free health care from the United States government. The participants were not informed about the nature of the study and were not given the necessary treatment even after penicillin was proven to be an effective cure for syphilis.

Ethical Issues

The Tuskegee Syphilis Study is often cited as one of the most infamous cases of unethical medical research. It led to significant changes in how patients are protected in clinical studies. Individuals are now required to be informed about the purpose, risks, and benefits of the study before they agree to participate, a concept known as informed consent.

Related Terms

Syphilis: A sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum.
Tuskegee Institute: A private, historically black university located in Tuskegee, Alabama.
United States Public Health Service: A division of the Department of Health and Human Services concerned with public health.
Penicillin: An antibiotic used to treat a number of bacterial infections.
Informed consent: A process for getting permission before conducting a healthcare intervention on a person.

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Tuskegee Syphilis Study
Wikipedia's article - Tuskegee Syphilis Study

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Tuskegee Syphilis Study