Essay: Flowers of Algeron, Was it an ethical experiment

Flowers For Algeron

Essay: Was this an ethical experiment?

The experiment performed in Charlie Gordon is not an ethical experiment and this is seen in the text Flowers For Algeron. An ethical experiment is defined in The World Book Dictionary and Ethical Intersections: Health Research, Methods and Researcher Responsibility , as an operation for the purpose of discovering something unknown using morally acceptable methods of data collection and analysis. Morally acceptable methods are defined as research carefully planned to avoid the possibility of inflicting harm or, where this possible, any possible harm should be carefully explained and justified. Charlie Gordon is a mental handicap who underwent a neurological operation which tripled his IQ within a short period of time. However, as a consequence of the operation, his IQ deteriorated at the same rate it had risen. The experiment performed on Charlie Gordon is not an ethical experiment because Charlie, in light of the text, did not fully understand the whole package about he experiment such as the consequences and was not given a consultant to explain to him.

Charlie Annonsbild

[Portrait of Charlie Parker, Tommy Potter, Miles D...

Illustration of swan-necked flask experiment used ...

Although, he had voluntarily accepted the experiment, his competence which includes maturity and responsibility should not have been readily accepted as that of a normal adult and he did not know the full information about the experiment. ane ethical experiment is thought to be one in which the costs are equal to the benefits. The costs of the experiment in regards to Charlie's health outweigh the benefits.

In light of the text, Charlie Gordon did not fully comprehend what the experiment was about and what was involved such as the risks or benefits. Form the text, all the readers knows, the that the experiment could make him smarter. Throughout the beginning of the experiment, Charlie did not understand what was happening...