Charlie's Procedure In Daniel Keyes Flowers For Algernon

Dr. Strauss and Dr. Nemur observe Charlie as he answers a few simple questions. The doctors see a young man who desperately wants intelligence, and the doctors find that helping increase Charlie’s intelligence is a pathway to their glory. “Flowers for Algernon”, a novel written by Daniel Keyes, is about Charlie Gordon, a thirty-seven year old man who has a mental disability. Although Charlie is too naive to realize that others ridicule him, he can tell that something is wrong. Charlie believes that if he were smart, he would have more friends. When a surgery is offered to Charlie, he eagerly agrees to have the experimental procedure performed on him. Both doctors use Charlie’s eagerness to their advantage, and they perform a surgery on Charlie that greatly changes his life. Gordon’s procedure is unethical, as Charlie is unable to make a valid decision, the experiment does not follow the proper procedure guidelines, and the doctors do not have Charlie’s best interest in mind.

When Charlie agrees to have the experimental procedure performed on him, he does not have enough intelligence to make a decision that is properly thought through. Charlie is unable to comprehend the unintended consequences of the procedure. Hearing that he will be used

for the experiment, Charlie writes in a progress report: “Their going to use me! Im so excited I can hardly write… And she said Charlie… if you volunteer for this experament you might get smart” (193; 75-81). Charlie does not realize that there are risks, nor does he ask the doctors any questions about the operation, implying that Charlie does not understand the risk he is taking. Dr. Strauss and Dr. Nemur sugarcoat the possible outcomes of the experiment, stating the risks obliquely. Although they know that Charlie is unable to infer that the procedure can be very dangerous, the doctors do not state the consequences in a clear fashion, so Charlie is oblivious that the surgery could have negative effects, and he quickly agrees to the operation. Due to his low intelligence level, Charlie is unable to make a decision that is rational and beneficial. In the same progress report, Charlie writes, “Thats why I said ok even when I was scarid because she said it was an operashun” (193; 82-83). Gordon’s IQ is also far to low to make a life-changing decision, for his IQ is 68, the average intelligence level of a six or seven year old. Charlie’s reasoning is illogical, for he believes that operations are always safe, and his lack to understand the different possible outcomes causes him to quickly agree to the procedure.

Charlie’s procedure does not follow the standard procedure guidelines, so there are dangers of the experiment that can be avoided.

Before the procedure, Dr. Strauss and Dr. Nemur rely solely on Charlie’s intelligence and personality to determine if he is qualified to go undergo the experiment. During an argument between Dr. Strauss and Dr. Nemur, Dr. Strauss asserts, “He has a good natcher hes intristed and eager to please” (193; 96). Two major factors that Dr. Strauss and Dr. Nemur do not assess are Charlie’s emotional and physical health, as well as the affects the procedures could have on Charlie’s health. Instead, the doctors rely mostly on Charlie’s amicable personality to determine that Charlie can undergo the

procedure.