Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis in the Negro Male

The Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis in the Negro Male was a controversial research project conducted by the U.S. Public Health Service from 1932 to 1972. It aimed to observe the natural progression of untreated syphilis in African American men, who were misled and not provided with effective treatment, even after penicillin became available. The study raised serious ethical issues regarding consent, deception, and exploitation, highlighting systemic racism in medical research. It ultimately contributed to significant changes in ethical guidelines for human subjects in research, emphasizing the importance of informed consent and respect for participants' rights.