11. The Tuskegee Syphilis Study (United States, 1932-1972)
Between 1932 and 1972, the U.S. Public Health Service conducted the Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis in the Negro Male, observing the progression of syphilis in 399 African American men without informing them of their diagnosis or providing treatment, even after penicillin became the standard care in the 1940s. The study continued for 40 years, resulting in numerous deaths and infections among participants and their families. The unethical nature of the study led to public outrage and significant reforms in research ethics. (cdc.gov) For more information, you can refer to the CDC’s overview of the Tuskegee Study.
