io9's "The Controversial Doctor Who Pioneered the Idea Of "Informed Consent""

This story describes a 1966 journal article that argues that signing an informed consent isn't the same as truly giving informed consent.

I think this is a good example for the ethics section of a research methods class as it demonstrates some deeply unethical situations in which participants weren't able to give informed consent (prisoners, non-English speakers, etc.). Indeed, the context within which the informed consent is provided is very important. It also provides a historical context regarding the creation of Institutional Review Boards.

The original 1966 article is here.

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