The Cure at a Crossroads: The Intersection of Ethics and Ambition in AIDS Research

Abstract

This paper explores the structure of the major code of ethics regarding human experimentation, the Nuremberg Code. The paper begins with an explanation of the modern ethical standards and how they were established. Following this background is an inquiry into the actual force the Nuremberg Code carries in American courts, and how cultural values are reflected in the courts’ decisions. These ethical codes are then explored through the lens of the AIDS vaccine research being conducted currently in Africa and other third-world countries. This more philosophical part of the paper questions the strength of the Nuremberg Code, and highlights some of its weaknesses with regards to real-life crises. In conclusion, the paper exposes the many conflicting aspects of this ethical debate between human autonomy and medical emergency and reveals that while perhaps there is no “right†answer at this time, the debate itself is a valuable check on our ambitions.