Henry Beecher's 1966 New England Journal Of Medicine Article
In 1966, one of the most influential medical papers of the 20th century was published by Dr. Henry Beecher, a professor at Harvard Medical School. Beecher's article, titled "Ethics and Clinical Research," was published in the New England Journal of Medicine and had a profound impact on the medical community. Beecher's article highlighted the need for ethical guidelines in medical research and helped to change the way that clinical trials were conducted.
The Background of Beecher's Article
The 1960s were a time of great change in the United States, and the medical community was not immune to these changes. During this time, there was a growing concern among medical professionals about the ethical implications of medical research. Many doctors and scientists were conducting experiments on human subjects without their consent, and there were few regulations in place to protect these subjects from harm.
One of the most notorious examples of unethical medical research during this time was the Tuskegee Syphilis Study. This study, which began in 1932, involved the United States Public Health Service studying the effects of untreated syphilis in African American men. The men in the study were not told that they had syphilis, and they were not given treatment for the disease, even when it became available. The study continued until 1972, when it was finally exposed and shut down.
Beecher was aware of the ethical concerns surrounding medical research, and he was particularly troubled by the lack of guidelines in place to protect human subjects. In 1966, he published his article in the New England Journal of Medicine, hoping to start a conversation about the need for ethical guidelines in medical research.
The Impact of Beecher's Article
Beecher's article had a profound impact on the medical community. It called for ethical guidelines to be established for medical research and argued that the rights of human subjects must be protected. Beecher's article was widely read and discussed, and it helped to create a groundswell of support for the establishment of ethical guidelines in medical research.
One of the most significant outcomes of Beecher's article was the establishment of the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research, which was created in 1974. This commission was tasked with developing guidelines for the use of human subjects in medical research, and its work led to the establishment of the Belmont Report, which outlined the basic ethical principles that should guide medical research.
Beecher's article also helped to change the way that clinical trials were conducted. Prior to the publication of his article, many clinical trials were conducted without the informed consent of human subjects. Beecher's article helped to establish the principle of informed consent, which requires that patients be fully informed about the risks and benefits of a clinical trial before they agree to participate.
The Legacy of Beecher's Article
Beecher's article continues to be read and studied today, more than 50 years after it was first published. It is considered a landmark paper in the history of medical ethics, and it helped to establish the principles of informed consent, respect for human subjects, and the need for ethical guidelines in medical research.
Beecher's legacy lives on in the work of organizations like the National Institutes of Health, which has established strict guidelines for the use of human subjects in medical research, and the World Medical Association, which has developed the Declaration of Helsinki, a set of ethical guidelines for medical research involving human subjects.
Conclusion
Henry Beecher's 1966 New England Journal of Medicine article, "Ethics and Clinical Research," was a seminal paper that helped to change the way that medical research is conducted. By highlighting the need for ethical guidelines and the protection of human subjects, Beecher's article helped to establish the principles that guide medical research today. His legacy continues to be felt in the work of organizations around the world, and his contributions to the field of medical ethics will be remembered for generations to come.