Part 1
Discuss how individuals or organizations can or have used research in an unethical manner. What consequences have you seen or could be possible? Discuss responses with class members. 250 words
Part 2
Hi, I’m William. When research is being conducted, it is mostly assumed that it is being done ethically. Ethically meaning, it was done in a way that followed guidelines, rules and regulations. Not all research has been conducted in a way that would be considered ethical. One particular instance comes to mind whenever unethical research is mentioned. That is the way in which Hitler and the Nazi regime conducted research on the Jews and other targeted groups. The research was conducted primarily through surveillance, forced medical experimentation, and coercive data collection. We know that the actions of Hitler and the Nazi’s were unethical and disgusting. That is why it is so important to monitor and regulate any other would-be organizations from participating in such vile practices against anyone or anything in the future.
One of the unethical methods used by the Nazi’s was extensive surveillance. The Nazi regime did this by using networks and informants within the community to gather information about Jewish individuals and families. This information was then used to track and hunt individuals deemed undesirable by the regime. This led to families hiding out of fear they would be captured and killed. Another method was through forced medical experimentation. Nazi Doctors and scientists conducted horrible medical experiments and procedures on Jews they had located and put in concentration camps. These experiments were done without any consent and used to promote more racist theories and hatred towards the Jews. The Nazi’s used census data and mandatory registration of citizens to create detailed records of religious affiliations. This was solely an attempt to target Jews and other minorities for persecution and extermination. Further, the Nazi’s used propaganda and indoctrination campaigns to spread antisemitic ideas and stereotypes. This psychological manipulation contributed to the hostility towards Jews laying the way for further persecution and research without their knowledge or consent.
These unethical research methods illustrate how easily people can be violated if rules and standards for research are not adhered to. The Nazi regime systematically violated ethical norms and human rights in their research of the Jews. Once again, this deplorable behavior reminds us of the importance of ethical guidelines and protections for human subjects in research today.