Essay: Sacrifice for Greater Good and its Ethical Implications

This essay examines the ethical implications of sacrificing individuals for the greater good, using the Tuskegee Syphilis Study as a primary example. The essay explores the historical context of the study, where African Americans were subjected to unethical medical experimentation. It highlights the violation of human rights and the lack of informed consent. The essay argues that the pursuit of a greater good, such as medical advancements, does not justify the sacrifice of individual autonomy and rights. It emphasizes the importance of ethical considerations in public health and the potential consequences of disregarding individual rights in the name of societal benefit. The essay also references the discovery of penicillin and the failure to treat the patients. The conclusion reinforces the importance of ethical principles in medical research and the need to protect individual rights.

Running head: ESSAY
Sacrifice for Greater Good
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Author Note

ESSAY
There are handful of evidences in modern history which demonstrate that sacrifices have
been made in order to achieve the greater good. The medical fields and its experiments can be
examined as a platform for evoking such debate; whether the sacrifice of an experimented
subject or many people is justified for a greater good or not. The Tuskegee Syphilis experiment
of the mid twentieth century demonstrates one of the significant examples. The United States
Public Health conducted this experimentation on African Americans to observe the progression
of Syphilis (West 2014). It is considered to be to be one of the most unethical experiments of
modern times. The project was undertaken for discovering potential medicines to treat the
syphilis. Like in the story the Tessie fell victim of the sacrifice, here the poor African American
government initiated medical experiment (YouTube 2016). Their disease was curable as
Penicillin was already discovered and the patients were not informed about their diseases. It is
also disclosed that the patients suffered from the infections caused by the experiment till their
death. Though the purpose of the study was to provide treatment for untreated diseases but it is
undeniable that in the process the government violated multiple human rights. This experiment
not only provides with an example of moral wrong doings but also the future consequences of
such initiatives. One of the most valued aspect of Western society is the individual autonomy and
rights. Therefore, the purpose of greater good is not adequate to justify the sacrifices of
individual autonomy and rights.

ESSAY
Reference
West, H., 2014. Tuskegee Syphilis Study.
YouTube. (2016). The Lottery Shirley Jackson (Full Audiobook). [online] Available at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwhCf9D5gbg [Accessed 5 Nov. 2017].