Final answer:
The Tuskegee Syphilis Study's purpose was to conduct a syphilis study on African American men, who were misled and untreated even after a cure was found, leading to significant ethical issues and mistrust in healthcare. Option 1 is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
The purpose of the medical program mentioned in the context of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study was to conduct a syphilis study. This unethical study was conducted by the U.S. Public Health Service in Macon County, Alabama, from 1932 to 1972. The researchers aimed to observe the natural progression of untreated syphilis in 399 African American men, who were deceived into believing they were receiving treatment for "Bad Blood". Even after the discovery of penicillin, the true cure for syphilis, in the 1940s, these men were not treated. This study is a stark example of medical exploitation and racism, resulting in a deep mistrust of the healthcare system by the African American community.