Unethical Research Cases and the Lessons That Shaped Modern Research Ethics Making the Case for Institutional Review Boards

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) did not emerge from abstract ethical theory or administrative preference. They developed in direct response to repeated and well-documented failures to protect human research participants (Faden & Beauchamp, 1986; Katz, 1972). Throughout the twentieth century, researchers across multiple national contexts conducted studies that exposed individuals to harm, deception, and exploitation—often selecting participants precisely because they were marginalized, institutionalized, or lacked the power to refuse (Brandt, 1978). This chapter examines three landmark cases from Germany, the United States, and Sweden. Although differing in political and cultural context, each case demonstrates similar ethical breakdowns: absence of informed consent, exploitation of vulnerable populations, disproportionate risk without benefit, and lack of independent accountability (Belmont Report, 1979).