Free medical examinations were given however, subjects were not told about their disease. Six hundred low-income African-American males, 400 of whom were infected with syphilis, were monitored for 40 years. Tuskegee Syphilis Study (1932-1972)Īn equally well-known chapter in history occurred during a research project conducted by the U.S. For the first time, drug manufacturers were required to prove to the FDA the effectiveness of their products before marketing them. Senate hearings followed and in 1962 the so-called “Kefauver Amendments” to the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act were passed into law to ensure drug efficacy and greater drug safety. Some 12,000 babies were born with severe deformities due to thalidomide. Many patients did not know they were taking a drug that was not approved for use by the FDA, nor did they give informed consent. The drug was prescribed to control sleep and nausea throughout pregnancy, but it was soon found that taking this drug during pregnancy caused severe deformities in the fetus. In the late 1950s, thalidomide was approved as a sedative in Europe it was not approved in the United States by the FDA. Most of the subjects of these experiments died or were permanently crippled as a result.Īs a direct result of the trial, the Nuremberg Code was established in 1948, stating that “The voluntary consent of the human subject is absolutely essential,” making it clear that subjects should give consent and that the benefits of research must outweigh the risks.Īlthough it did not carry the force of law, the Nuremberg Code was the first international document which advocated voluntary participation and informed consent. Among the charges were that German physicians conducted medical experiments on thousands of concentration camp prisoners without their consent. 9, 1946, when an American military tribunal opened criminal proceedings against 23 leading German physicians and administrators for their willing participation in war crimes and crimes against humanity. Also, unlike philosophical frameworks such as deontology or the ethics of care, critics point out that this principle was never meant to be a guide for human behavior.ĭespite these criticisms, the harm principle has played a major role in many debates such as whether or not the government may punish homosexuality, hate speech, not wearing a seatbelt, and other similar issues.A well-known chapter in the history of research with human subjects opened on Dec. Critics counter that the harm principle is too vague or broad to be useful and does not adequately define harm. But a government can rightfully demand that its citizens be vaccinated in a pandemic in order to prevent the spread of a deadly virus to others.Īccording to Mill, disapproval or social dislike of an action such as being offended by what someone says or wears, is not enough to invoke the harm principle and limit personal freedoms. According to philosopher John Stuart Mill, “the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others.”įor example, a government cannot make its citizens use a potential life-saving cancer treatment because no one else is harmed by a person’s decision to refuse this treatment. The harm principle is central to the political philosophy of liberalism, which values individual rights and personal liberty. The harm principle is often explained as “your right to swing your fist ends where my nose begins.” In other words, people should be free to act as they wish as long as their actions do not cause harm to others. 36 short illustrated videos explain behavioral ethics concepts and basic ethics principles.īeing Your Best Self, Part 1: Moral Awarenessīeing Your Best Self, Part 2: Moral Decision Makingīeing Your Best Self, Part 3: Moral Intentīeing Your Best Self, Part 4: Moral ActionĮthical Leadership, Part 1: Perilous at the TopĮthical Leadership, Part 2: Best Practicesĥ8 animated videos - 1 to 2 minutes each - define key ethics terms and concepts.ģ0 videos - one minute each - introduce newsworthy scandals with ethical insights and case studies.Ĭurbing Corruption: GlaxoSmithKline in China
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