Hero or Hazard? The Ethics of the First Vaccine

Was the birth of modern medicine a triumph of genius—or a terrifying bioethical crime? In Episode 14 of Bioethics Tête-à-Tête, host Rtr Ketaki Khamkar uncovers the dark history of the world's first vaccine. In 1796, Dr. Edward Jenner discovered the key to eradicating smallpox, but he did so by playing Russian roulette with an eight-year-old boy's life—intentionally injecting his gardener's son with a deadly virus to prove his theory. With no informed consent or safety protocols, we ask the hard question: Was Jenner a visionary hero who saved millions, or a bioethical hazard? Tune in to explore the thin line between scientific triumph and human exploitation.