Here's why:
* The Tuskegee Syphilis Study (1932-1972) involved withholding treatment for syphilis from hundreds of African American men in Alabama, even after penicillin became the standard cure. This study was highly unethical, violating basic principles of informed consent, beneficence, and justice.
* Public Outrage: The study's unethical practices became public in the early 1970s, sparking widespread outrage and calls for reform. This public outcry led to:
* The National Research Act of 1974: This act established the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research.
* The Belmont Report (1979): This report, produced by the commission, outlined three core ethical principles for human subject research:
* Respect for Persons: Individuals should be treated autonomously, and those with diminished autonomy should be protected.
* Beneficence: Research should maximize benefits and minimize harms to participants.
* Justice: Research should be conducted fairly, and the benefits and burdens of research should be distributed equitably.
Therefore, the Tuskegee Syphilis Study served as a catalyst for the creation of the National Research Act and the Belmont Report, both of which laid the foundation for federal regulations protecting human subjects in research.