RACIAL PREJUDICE IN MEDICINE
J1B167-1 Ruruko Yamada

Japanese | English

Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION
 In this research paper, I will analyze the unequal, unethical and inhuman treatment of minority population, namely black in the USA to become subjects of medical experimentation. Racism in medicine has run parallel tracks with racism in U.S. society. After the abolition of slavery, blacks were thought to be inferior and many times were not be treated as human being. Racial prejudice also excluded many blacks from medical care, closing the doors of many private offices and hospitals alike. The two following cases are examples of racial prejudice in medicine in the US.

Chapter 2 THE TUSKEGEE CASE
 For forty years from 1932 to 1972, the United States Public Health Service(PHS) conducted on a study of the effects of untreated syphilis on black men in Macon County, Alabama, in and around the seat of Tuskegee. The study involved the use of only black subjects : 399 who had syphilis and an additional 201 who were free from the disease chosen to serve as controls. The study had nothing to do with treatment even though the treatment became available.

Chapter 3 SICKLE CELL DISEASE
 In 1910 that the first doctor publicly announced he had detected an anemia caused by the sickling of the blood's red cells. But it was not until 1971 when enough scientific progress was made because the sickle cell disease was affecting only blacks. Sickle Cell Disease is a disease of blacks who belong to minority in the US. It is the reason why physicians did not pay attention to it.

Chapter 4 FROM THE HISTORICAL VIEW OF RACISM
 Seeing the history of Afro-Americans who have suffered from their doom since they were taken to the United States as slaves. why physicians did not pay attention to it.

Chapter 5 GENERAL IDEAS OF RACISM
 From biological, anthropological, scientifical view.

Chapter 6 FROM BIOETHICAL ASPECT
◇ The points at issue
・The patient did not have the right of autonomy.
・The Tuskegee Case was an human experimentation not to consider the beneficience for patients but for the progress of science.
・The Tuskegee study was done only to blacks because they were thought to be inferior species. On the other hand, physicians were not interested in Sickle Cell Disease because it was the disease of blacks.

◇ Concluding remarks
・respect human rights.
・Awareness of the responsibility for society and public.
・Institutionalize regulation as guideline for experiment and organization.
・Prevent to make study professionaly. Exchange of ideas and open information to public.
・Consider bioethics as also a movement.

Chapter 7 CONCLUSION
 Racial prejudice is concerned in many other issues so it seems difficult to address. Slavery existed for two centuries for the economic benefit of the white people. The Tuskegee case lasted 40 years for self-satisfaction of scientists and physicians and medical benefit of the white people.
 "Race" should not be used for hatred. It is us to change the system of society.


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