Unethical_Business

Unethical Business Research 1 Unethical Business Research February 20, 2012 RES/351 Unethical Business Research 2 Unethical Business Research Why do people do unethical research studies' This paper is going to look at a study conducted by a doctor named Andrew Wakefield. Doctor Wakefield acted unethically in a study about MMR inoculations and caused a stir between doctors and confused many parents. This may sound like a medical research study but as one will see it was actually done unethically over money. According to Cavendish, Cooper, and Hewitt doctor Andrew Wakefield published a research study in 1998 showing results that the vaccine MMR (measles, mumps and rubella ) can cause children to develop autism. This report caused a large amount of confusion among parents. Many doctors disagreed with this finding and told parents they should get the MMR inoculations for their children as the risks of the measles, mumps and rubella far outweighed the risk of autism (Cavendish, Cooper, & Hewitt, 2006). When Dr. Wakefield made his research study announcement, no one at the time knew that he only studied 12 children. The study it turned out was financed by lawyers who represented the 12 children in a bid to sue the drug manufacturer. When this information was revealed it was clear to most people especially in the medical field that the claims of a child developing autism from the MMR vaccine was false (Cavendish, Cooper, & Hewitt, 2006). It was clear this research study was biased from the beginning. The results of this unethical study left parents confused. There are parents who listen to their family doctors and get their children the vaccine and there are parents who do not (Cavendish, Cooper, & Hewitt, 2006). The effects of this study can cause children to suffer outbreaks of measles, mumps or rubella. The effects of these diseases can effect a child for the rest of their lives. The more children without the vaccine can cause the diseases to spread rapidly. Dr. Wakefield 's unethical study has effected society as a whole. There are parents debating with other parents and parents doubting what their doctors recommend. This study has caused doctors to shy Unethical Business Research 3 away from further research in this area (Cavendish, Cooper, & Hewitt, 2006). Since doctors are staying away from research into the connection of the MMR vaccine and autism the debate will go on and parents run the risks of exposing their children to these diseases. When Dr. Wakefield released his study there were 12 other doctors participating in the study. These doctors have since retracted what they believed at the time. Dr. Wakefield himself stood by and still stands by his research study. His releasing of his study's finding Dr. Wakefield has been charged with misconduct charges from the NHS (National Heath Service, England), Although Dr. Wakefield still stands by his study results (Cavendish, Cooper, & Hewitt, 2006). One may ask can this unethical research study could have been ethical and the answer would have to be yes. First if the research study was ever created by a university, medical society or in this case a children 's hospital. The study would also be more valid if there were more than just 12 children studied. Instead this study was unethical from the start, first being paid for by lawyers trying to sue drug manufacturers and secondly the study has 13 doctors studying 12 children. This study could have been a pure medical research study, but once the lawyers initiated the study for their own gains the study became a unethical business research. In conclusion, a group of lawyers wanted to make a gain off the earnings of drug manufacturers, they found a doctor in Andrew Wakefield a well known gastroenterologist to do a study on jusrt 12 children. The research study being paid for by potential litigants would create a bias of the results from the start. Then the announcement of the findings that the MMR vaccine can lead to autism would create panic and frustration to parents world wide. Amazing that an event that happened in 1996 can still cause a stir today. This was an unethical study that can put children at risk idf their parents do not vaccinate them. Dr Wakefield did receive misconduct charges from the National Health Society of England , but not charged legally for any crimes even though his study was biased. This study could have been done unethically under the right conditions and should have never been conducted for Unethical Business Research 4 monetary reasons. There might very well be a connection between the MMR vaccine and autism , however doctors and researchers are avoiding this study due to one man's unethical study. Unethical Business Research 5 References Cavendish, Lucy, Wakefield, Andrew, Hewitt, Martin, (2006) Have We All Been Taken for Fools Over MMR' England Standard Newspaper, Associated Newspapers Ltd, London, United Kingdom retrieved from: http://search.proquest.com/docview/330026004'accountid=35812