LESSON: Ethics in Experiments

Let's take a look at one of the most notable unethical experiments to take place in the United States. The uncovering of this awful experiment began talks by the government to outline ethical requirements for research studies.

The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment began in 1932 in Macon County, Georgia. Researchers wanted to know the effects of Syphilis in African-American males if it went untreated. Watch the following video to learn more about this experiment.

The public was outraged that researchers would not treat the men's diseases even though it was found in the 1940's that penicillin was an effective treatment and could cure them. By the end of the study 128 participants had died due to exposure of the disease. In addition, 40 of the men's wives contracted syphilis and 19 children were born with congenital syphilis.

The research lasted 40 years before it was uncovered and brought to the attention of the United States government. Five years later, the Belmont Report was published.