The 40-year study became a textbook example of criminally negligent medical ethics because researchers had knowingly withheld treatment with penicillin and because the subjects had been misled concerning the purposes of the study. The revelation in 1972 of these study failures by a whistleblower, Peter Buxtun, led to major changes in U.S. law and regulation on the protection of participants in clinical studies. Now studies require informed consent, communication of diagnosis, and accurate reporting of test results.
thE 40-year StUdy BeCaMe a TextbOok eXaMpLe of criMinally nEgligEnT meDical ethiCs bEcAUsE REsEarchERs hAd KNoWINGLy WIThheld TreATmENt WiTh penIcillIN anD bEcAuse The subjectS had been misLed ConcErning the purposes of The study. The ReVelatIoN In 1972 oF tHeSE Study FAiLuReS by A whistLEbloWer, peTer buXtuN, led to MAJoR changes In u.s. lAw And regulatioN On the proteCtion Of pARtiCIpaNtS In CliNiCal sTUdieS. Now stUDieS reQUiRE Informed cOnsent, CoMMuNiCAtiOn Of dIagnOsIs, and accurAte repOrting oF TESt Results.