WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SCIENCE G O ’ S B A D ?

SYPHILIS THE GREAT DECEIVER! THE GREAT DECEIVER! SYMPTOMS MIMIC OTHER DISEASES SYMPTOMS MIMIC OTHER DISEASES SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED ARRIVED IN EUROPE IN LATE 1400’s ARRIVED IN EUROPE IN LATE 1400’s WAS IT THE ONLY DISEASE BROUGHT BACK FROM THE NEW WORLD??? WAS IT THE ONLY DISEASE BROUGHT BACK FROM THE NEW WORLD???

SYPHILIS - ETIOLOGY TRANSMITTED WHEN INFECTED MUCOUS MEMBRANE CONTACTS ANOTHER MUCOUS MEMBRANE Caused By: Treponema pallidum T. p a l l i d u m i s a B a c t e r i a A Special Type of Bacteria Called a Spirochete

SYPHILIS - Mortality Originally Killed Very Quickly Originally Killed Very Quickly Days to Weeks Days to Weeks Now Untreated Death Takes Years Now Untreated Death Takes Years Natural Selection for Immunity Natural Selection for Immunity

SYPHILIS - Morbidity Three Phases When Untreated: Tertiary attacks organs, especially nerves/brain Secondary systemic spread followed by disappearance Primary lesions at point of infection

SYPHILIS - Morbidity TreatedPenicillin VERY Effective Single Dose Available Since 1940’s Complete Recovery

NOW, What About BAD SCIENCE

1930’s Bad Time for Science Science/Genetics Use As An Excuse For Eugenics Movement Which Led To Holocaust and TUSKEGEE SYPHILIS STUDY X

TUSKEGEE SYPHILIS STUDY Who:U.S. Public Health Service When:1932 – 1972 Where:Alabama To Whom:399 Illiterate Black Sharecroppers What:Human Experimentation Intentionally Lied To Subjects Did Not Treat A Deadly Disease

TUSKEGEE SYPHILIS STUDY What They Were Told: They had “Bad Blood” They had “Bad Blood” They would receive Free Healthcare They would receive Free Healthcare Courtesy of National Archives

TUSKEGEE SYPHILIS STUDY What They Were NOT Told: They had Syphilis They had Syphilis They would NOT be treated They would NOT be treated They signed papers authorizing their own autopsy upon death. They signed papers authorizing their own autopsy upon death. They could infect their families. They could infect their families. Courtesy of CDC Treponema pallidum – silver stain

TUSKEGEE SYPHILIS STUDY What Was The Purpose: To Discover How Syphilis Affected Blacks as Opposed to Whites. To Discover How Syphilis Affected Blacks as Opposed to Whites. No Whites Were Studied. No Whites Were Studied. Courtesy of CDC

TUSKEGEE SYPHILIS STUDY Who Was Hurt: 28 Men Died Directly of Syphilis. 28 Men Died Directly of Syphilis. 100 Died of Syphilitic Complications. 100 Died of Syphilitic Complications. 40 of Their Wives Became Infected. 40 of Their Wives Became Infected. 19 of Their Children Were Born With Congenital Syphilis 19 of Their Children Were Born With Congenital Syphilis Damage is Permanent Damage is Permanent Courtesy of CDC

This Study Was Wrong : Medical Treatment That Would Have Cured These Men and Their Families Was Intentionally Withheld. Medical Treatment That Would Have Cured These Men and Their Families Was Intentionally Withheld. Full Discloser was NEVER Provided. Full Discloser was NEVER Provided. There Was NO Real Medical Value To The Study. There Was NO Real Medical Value To The Study. TUSKEGEE SYPHILIS STUDY This Certificate Was Provided By The USPHS to the Victims of the Study. Courtesy of CDC

The Apology President Clinton’s Apology To 8 Survivors May 16, 1997 The United States government did something that was wrong- deeply, profoundly, morally wrong. It was an outrage to our commitment to integrity and equality for all our citizens… and was clearly racist.

References: National Archives, Southeast Region: Center for Disease Control: National Public Radio: American Medical Association, Medical Ethics: assn.org/ama/pub/category/2512.html assn.org/ama/pub/category/2512.htmlhttp:// assn.org/ama/pub/category/2512.html