Sacrifice for Society
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It has been observed that individuals have needs, and when these needs, both physical and emotional, have been taken away, society considers it unethical. On the other hand, society often forgets that with scientific advancements obtained at the expense of an individual comes the prevention of these consequences from happening to the rest of society. When looking at big picture conclusions, scientific advancements benefit society more than the protection of ethics.
When experiments use human test subjects, it is usually seen as unethical, but these patients know exactly what they may get themselves into when they sign up. The subjects know that there is risk of damage or injury to them when they sign the legal papers that allow them to participate. These patients also know that any consequences that they experience during, or after the length of the experiment are not the doctors or scientists responsibility because the patients were informed of these risks when making a decision.
Charlie Gordon, of Flowers for Algernon, is a great example of this problem. Charlie knew that he may not stay smart, and also that he may not survive.
Charlie chose to do this experiment so that he would know what it feels like to be smart. He also wanted to help find out if there was a chance of lame people like him to obtain an increased Intelligence Quotient (IQ). At the end of the story, when Charlie found out that he would die, he said “He feels guilty. They all do. But I dont blame anyone. But how it hurts.” (Keyes 731). Charlie cannot blame anyone, despite the feeling of guilt from his allies, because he knows that before the operation he knew it might cause his death.
Subjects of experiments like the one Charlie participated in often do it for curiosity, or the greater good of society rather than the possibility of bettering themselves. The patients know exactly how others like them feel, whether that be inadequate, socially awkward, or too intelligent to hold a normal conversation. Charlie can also be an example for this. After the operation when his IQ started to increase, Charlie started to be glad that he could possibly improve the lives of other lower intelligence people like him. He said ”