Milgram and Tuskegee—Paradigm Research Projects in Bioethics

Authors: Cave E.¹; Holm S.²

Source: Health Care Analysis, Volume 11, Number 1, March 2003 , pp. 27-40(14)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

This paper discusses the use of the Milgram obedience experiments and the Tuskegee syphilis study in the bioethical literature. The two studies are presented and a variety of uses of them identified and discussed. It is argued that the use of these studies as paradigms of problematic research relies on a reduction of their complexity. What is discussed is thus often constructions of these studies that are closer to hypothetical examples than to the real studies.

Keywords: deception; ethical argument; harm to research subjects; Milgram; research ethics; Tuskegee; use of examples

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Department of Law, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom 2: Institute of Medicine, Law and Bioethics, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom; soren.holm@man.ac.uk

Publication date: 2003-03-01