Question

The Willow brook hepatitis studies In the 1960s, children entering the Willow brook State School, an institution for the mentally retarded, were deliberately infected with hepatitis. The researchers argued that almost all children in the institution quickly became infected anyway. The studies

showed for the first time that two strains of hepatitis existed. This finding contributed to the development of effective vaccines. Despite these valuable results, the Willow brook studies are now considered an example of unethical research. Explain why, according to current ethical standards, useful results are not enough to allow a study.

Short answer

A study should never cause the death of any individuals, no matter the useful results.

Step-by-step solution

Given information

The students at Willow brook State School, a mentally challenged institution, were infected with hepatitis on purpose.

Concept

Individuals are purposely subjected to a treatment in order to measure their responses in an experiment.

Explanation

The students at Willow Brook State School, a mentally handicapped hospital, were purposefully infected with hepatitis in this study. Hence, according to current ethical standards, useful results are insufficient to authorize a study because intentionally infecting children with hepatitis means intentionally giving them a (possibly) fatal disease, and thus the study will result in the death of many children. As a result, no study should ever result in the death of any individuals, regardless of how beneficial the results are.