Briefly explain the purpose and responsibilities of an Institutional Review Board (IRB) in the protection of human subjects within the context of a research study.
The purpose of an IRB is to protect the rights as well as the welfare of human research subjects. The board serves the purpose whenever human subjects are recruited to take part in research experiments done by the institution to which the IRB is affiliated. The IRB is responsible for reviewing experiments involving human subjects before they are initiated. The IRB is mandated with protecting the rights, privacy and welfare of the human subjects. Additionally, the IRB has the mandate of approving, monitoring and disapproving the research activities.
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If you were an IRB member reviewing this study, would you have approved of this study? Why or why not?
If I were an IRB member reviewing this study, I would not have approved the study. I would not have passed the Tuskegee study because the risks to the subjects were not reasonable as far as the risk and benefit analysis is concerned. This is because the study involved monitoring untreated syphilis which its risks involved the death of the subjects. Additionally, the informed consent of the subjects was not documented, and the study provided false information to the subjects in the consent process.
List one ethical principle that was violated in this study and explain how it was violated.
One ethical principle violation in this study is respect for persons. The principle requires the researchers to be truthful and never use deception. The principle applies in the process of informed consent. According to the Tuskegee study, the principle was violated given that the human subjects involved in the study were not served with the truth. The study was deceptive where the volunteers were promised free treatment for the disease which they never received despite the discovery of penicillin that cured syphilis. Additionally, the ailment of the subjects was never disclosed to them; treatment was held for research purposes.
In the Tuskegee study, informed consent as we know it today was not obtained. What issues did you appreciate with the consent obtained in this study?
The issues I appreciate with the consent obtained for this study is the use of significant incentives. Despite the deceptive measures used in the study, the subjects benefited from some of the incentives promised to them. The other issue I appreciate from the consent obtained is the fact that the deception used in the consent later raised awareness that led to the elimination of such practices. Moreover, bodies reviewing experiments involving human subjects were formed and ensured the protection and welfare of human subjects.
