The Evolution of Nursing and Healthcare Research Ethics: Examining the Impact of Historical Events

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ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS:

Describe two historical events that have influenced the development of ethical codes and regulations for nursing and healthcare research. Explain how each event has impacted ethical codes and regulations.
Your initial posting should be at least 400 words in length and utilize at least one scholarly source other than the textbook.

HOW TO WORK ON THIS ASSIGNMENT(EXAMPLE ESSAY / DRAFT)

The evolution of ethical codes and regulations for nursing and healthcare research has been shaped by numerous historical events. Two events that have had a significant impact on the development of these codes and regulations are the Tuskegee Syphilis Study and the Nuremberg Code.

The Tuskegee Syphilis Study, conducted from 1932 to 1972, involved the U.S. Public Health Service withholding treatment from 399 African American men who had syphilis, in order to observe the natural progression of the disease. The study was widely criticized for its unethical treatment of participants, who were not informed of the study’s true purpose and were denied access to effective treatment even after it became available. This event led to the development of the Belmont Report in 1979, which outlined the ethical principles of respect for persons, beneficence, and justice that are now the foundation of research ethics in the United States.

The Belmont Report has influenced the development of ethical codes and regulations for nursing and healthcare research by establishing guidelines for the protection of human subjects. For example, the Belmont Report’s principle of respect for persons requires that individuals give informed consent before participating in research. This principle has been integrated into the current ethical codes for nursing and healthcare research, such as the American Nurses Association’s Code of Ethics, which emphasizes the importance of informed consent and the right to refuse participation in research.

The Nuremberg Code, developed in 1947 in response to Nazi medical experiments on prisoners, also had a significant impact on the development of ethical codes and regulations for nursing and healthcare research. The Nuremberg Code established ten principles that set the standard for ethical medical research, including the requirement for voluntary informed consent and the importance of minimizing harm to participants.

The Nuremberg Code has influenced the development of ethical codes and regulations for nursing and healthcare research by highlighting the importance of protecting vulnerable populations from harm. For example, the World Medical Association’s Declaration of Helsinki, which provides guidelines for medical research involving human subjects, is based on the principles of the Nuremberg Code. The Declaration emphasizes the importance of protecting the welfare of research participants, particularly vulnerable populations such as children, pregnant women, and prisoners.

In conclusion, the Tuskegee Syphilis Study and the Nuremberg Code are two historical events that have greatly influenced the development of ethical codes and regulations for nursing and healthcare research. These events have highlighted the importance of informed consent, protection of vulnerable populations, and minimizing harm to participants in research. The ethical principles established by these events continue to be the foundation of research ethics in nursing and healthcare today.

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