Human Subjects Quotes
At the time there were some religious extremists who interfered with important research as they did not believe that man should try and do what before only God could do. In modern times the religious interference in scientific research has tended to be about research involving contraception, abortion or embryonic stem cell research. The most dangerous by the 21st century were the PETA and other “animal rights” terrorist groups who not only physically sabotaged some scientific research but harmed people and endangered human life in the process. Most scientists however were not intimidated and lived up to their ethical obligation to continue scientific research despite the danger of the terrorists.
There was then as there is now some societal squeamishness on the part of a small but vociferous part of the population. Modern science has recently provided us with a few additional methods, but these three are still the most frequent. Yet there are a few who would outlaw research with animal subjects and deny other people the benefits of the medical research. This is a classic political conflict of values.
She led a study in the late 1950s where they collected 300,000 St Louis resident’s baby teeth with the ages of the time of collection and the data of birth. She and her colleagues were able to show that after each of the post WWII Nuclear Tests, the level of Strontium 90 increased in the teeth of the children. The results were published in the prestigious scientific journal Science in 1961. The study was presented to Congress by her husband—also a physician and it was also considered by President John F. Kennedy. It was also shared with the Russians and shortly thereafter the first of the Test Ban treaties was signed. At the time politicians had more respect for science than became the norm in the beginning of the 21st century but she retained her faith in the political process integrating and being informed by science. See {640558}.
