Case Study
Tuskegee Syphilis Study
CONTENT WARNING — Contains descriptions of racist and abusive medical research practice leading to serious harm and death
The Tuskegee Syphilis Study (1932–1972) stands as a harrowing example of how the values and motivations of researchers—and the institutions they represent—can cause lasting harm. Conducted by the U.S. Public Health Service, the study involved 600 African American men in Alabama, 399 of whom had syphilis. The stated aim was to observe the natural progression of untreated syphilis, but researchers deliberately withheld treatment, including penicillin, even after it became widely available.
Motivated by scientific curiosity and a desire for prestige within a racially biased system, the researchers prioritized data collection over participant well-being. The participants were misled about the nature of the study and denied informed consent, reflecting deeply flawed values: dehumanization of Black participants, pursuit of knowledge at any cost, and a belief in institutional authority over individual rights. These motivations were reinforced by a research culture that failed to critically interrogate its own ethical assumptions, allowing systemic racism to be framed as scientific objectivity.
This case illustrates the importance of reflexivity in research: examining whose values are being upheld and whose are ignored. It highlights the dangers of uncritical alignment with dominant institutional norms and the absence of community accountability. Better practice requires not just ethical procedures, but a commitment to critical self-reflection and values like justice, respect, and transparency that centre the dignity and autonomy of participants.
Use one of the following resources to find out more about the case:
Ugly History: The U.S Syphilis Experiment by Susan M. Reverby – a TED-ed talk on YouTube.
The Tuskegee Syphilis Study: Some Ethical Reflections by Adebayo Ogungbure
Even the most ethical research designs will have some negative impacts, whether that involves environmental damage, inconveniencing participants, or the use of animals in research. Consider the following questions:
- How do we decide what constitutes a just and fair study?
- What values inform this?
- Whose values inform this?