ISSN Imprimer: 2151-805X
ISSN En ligne: 2151-8068
Unheard Voices of Willowbrook: A Bioethics Education Perspective on New York's Infamous State School, 1947−1987
RÉSUMÉ
I provide a historical background regarding Willowbrook State School's unethical human experimentation projects in order to illuminate ethical solutions and remedies to challenges in educating and medically treating those who are mentally challenged and/or physically disabled. In light of this perspective, I explain the impact of patients' unethical treatment at Willowbrook through a visual presentation of original photographs and archival representations as well as its historical relevance to bioethics, medical ethics, and health care ethics. By presenting Willowbrook through this lens, readers can metaphorically hear and feel the voices of the institution's former residents. I present a transformative argument for global healthcare ethics reform for the physically disabled and mentally challenged. In addition, my audience can learn from the Willowbrook experiments and its ethics framework in order to promote a culture of medical justice inherent in fair and equitable treatment for all patients.