Willowbrook Hepatitis Study

The Willowbrook Hepatitis Study, conducted in the 1950s and 60s at Willowbrook State School in New York, aimed to understand hepatitis by intentionally exposing cognitively disabled children to the virus. Researchers believed this would help develop better treatments and vaccines. However, ethical concerns arose because the children were unable to give informed consent, and their exposure to the disease was not properly justified, leading to widespread criticism. The study highlighted the importance of ethical standards in research, particularly regarding vulnerable populations, and contributed to the establishment of stricter guidelines for medical research practices.