Why Is Henrietta Lacks Unethical
“The historic dream of public health…is a dream of social justice” (Health Affairs, Vol. 25, Number 4). In the story of Henrietta Lacks, it is hard to say that the use of her cervical tissue is ethical, because it is not. Henrietta was diagnosed with cervical cancer and Dr. Gey decided to isolate those cells. When he found that these cells could grow in a culture medium and last, he shared them with the world of science. Neither Henrietta nor her family members were aware of the advances that these cells have generated and that they were even taken in the first place (The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks). After learning the three basic bioethical principles, it was easier for me to claim that the taking and mass producing of …show more content…
Later, when Henrietta’s genome was published, it sparked up more drama, because this too was unethical. “That is private family information,” said Jeri Lacks-Whye, Lacks’s granddaughter. “It shouldn’t have been published without our consent” (The NY Times). I believe that the continued use of the HeLa cells would have been ethical if the scientists were given permission. “It was a big moment, a hopeful moment, sitting down with the family and bringing so many years of research without consent to an end” (NBC News). Now, the family members are aware of Henrietta’s cells and are okay with them being used for all of these advances. But, I find it unfair that they don’t get anything from it. “The Lacks family hasn’t, and won’t, see a dime of the profits that came from the findings generated by HeLa cells” (NBC News). In conclusion, most of the ethical principles were violated and this caused many other implications. Henrietta was not treated with respect, her and her family were put in harm, and the situation was extremely unjust. The actions of the scientists would have been effective and even necessary, if they received permission to act. The actions that they took were an infringement on Henrietta’s life and Henrietta and her family were lucky that years later, they were able to receive
The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks By Rebecca Skloot
585 Words | 3 PagesWithin the novel The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks written by Rebecca Skloot, Lacks and her family face many adversities. One adversity major mistreatment of Henrietta is while she's in the care of Dr. Gey. During her struggles Dr. Gey was removing tissue samples without informing Lacks his full intentions which was very wrong, but the arrival of Henrietta's cells proved to be vital in the advancement of the Science and medical fields. A sudden boom of new scientific research, and medical breakthroughs were now within in reach. One example of a major solution solved by HeLa cells was the expense of culturing cells, before Scientist would have to kill monkeys to obtain cells in order to run neutralization tests, this proved to be costly and
The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks Essay
906 Words | 4 PagesThe book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is a very touching book to me. This book has really made me think about how patients were treated back then in hospitals. It also has showed me how this book shows of how things were and have changed because of the Henrietta cells. The only thing is that Henrietta did not know that her cells were going into research labs. Since she did not know that they used her cells in research there was no way for her family to try to make money off it to help them finically.
Henrietta Lacks Research Papers
1071 Words | 5 PagesWho was Henrietta Lacks? Henrietta Lacks was an African American woman. She was born in August 1, 1920 as Loretta Pleasant. Henrietta was born in Roanoke, Virginia.
Did Henrietta Lacks Use Stem Cells And Informed Consent?
795 Words | 4 PagesGey took a tissue sample from her, and scientists who were making discoveries obviously benefitted financially from Henrietta's cells since they were making profit from their creations. So the Lacks family was enraged when they found out that people were profiting from their mother's cells that Dr. Gey stole. They felt that since Henrietta was their mother, they owned the HeLa cells and the hospital did not have the right to experiment on the cells without their consent. They thought that they should at least get compensation for the scientific discoveries. That brings up the question of who owns the cells and whether or not the family should be making any
Henrietta Lacks Book Report
2855 Words | 12 PagesThey didn’t grow the HeLa cells for a good cause. I think that it was good that journalists wanted to find out the real woman behind HeLa cells and wanting to contacting the family. The public and Henrietta’s family should have the right to know that Henrietta is the woman whose cells have changed the world. When Henrietta had passed away, her children were sent away to live with Ethel and Galen. Joe received such great abuse from Ethel.
Henrietta Lacks Research Paper
985 Words | 4 PagesMaybe figure out how to duplicate the cells and use it for other drugs that can help people heal better. All through this research and testing Henrietta was left in the dark she didn’t even know that the doctors removed a piece of her cervix for research purposes. She didn’t even receive credit for her cells until much much later. No one knew about the HeLa cells except for the doctors because they were trying to keep it a secret so their project wouldn’t get shutdown by not informing the patient that they’re using their cells. Some would say that the doctors did the right thing and kept the identity of the cells disclosed because later on it led to saving so many lives.
Henrietta Lacks Informed Consent
493 Words | 2 PagesI believe that the family members should have a say whether or not they have ownership of the cells. Henrietta Lacks’ consent was taken away from her, and so the next best case is to allow the family members to decide whether or not they give consent to the HeLa cells. Similar to the rule-utilitarian, if we were to disregard this case of informed consent, then what’s not to say we can violate someone else’s informed consent for another justifiable reason? This would lead to a slippery slope that could increase the lack of informed consents for patients. However, I, at the same time, understand that this is a very unique case and the cells are doing much more good than harm.
Impact Of Henrietta Lacks On Medical Research Then And Now
1291 Words | 6 PagesAtlanta repaid the Lacks family by giving each child an award for their mother’s contributions to the medical field through the discovery of the Polio vaccine, and the many advances it has on cancer research, and the honor that in Atlanta on October 11th it is referred to as Henrietta Lacks day. I also believe a fair remuneration for the family would be free health insurance for each of Henrietta’s children and her husband. This is fair because they are fully insured medically for anything that could happen to her children and the fact that there could still have research be pursued legally from now
The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks By Rebecca Skloot
1459 Words | 6 PagesWhether the motive behind the research was to improve human health, or to make money, the physicians neglected the real reason Henrietta was there, seeking help as a patient. Their later studies proved to be successful, but the unethical actions behind taking the cells remain just as prominent as the
Impact Of The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks
1387 Words | 6 PagesWhen he finally started growing the cells, he immediately started distributing them to other doctors and researchers. This article is much like the other articles I've annotated because it deals with the ethical issues of informed consent, and talks about Henrietta Lacks. If I was in Henrietta’s place and I was still alive I would sue John Hopkins and George Gey for stealing cells out of my body without my
Henrietta Lacks Research Paper
1362 Words | 6 PagesYou’re just making it worst. It thought that they didn't know what they were doing or using while doing surgery on henrietta. I think that the hospital did not have have the right to take Henrietta's cells or tissues, because it did not gave them a right to take her tissues. It only have them the right to do surgery on her. I feel like Henrietta did know what she was signing, because she was educated but since in the contract it didn't say anything about using her cells for research, I feel like she didn't know what she was signing.
Was Henrietta Lacks Be Allowed
656 Words | 3 PagesIs it right for one's life to be manipulated for the use of scientific research or is it just a evasion on the person's privacy. Henrietta Lacks was a African American with cells that intrigued many people, she was diagnosed with cancer leaving her to be cared for at her local hospital, where she would later die due to the extremity of the illness. While at the hospital she was unaware that the doctors there were experimenting on her taking cell samples from her body, to help find a resolution to multiple diseases. The people who examined Henrietta manipulated her and the rest of her family to gain information on her cellular structure to be ahead of others looking to achieve the same objective. Henrietta Lacks cells should have never been evaluated because it's an evasion of her freedom, a danger to her personal health, and cause conflicts.
Ethical Weight: The Story Of Henrietta Lacks
888 Words | 4 PagesThe story of Henrietta Lacks is one of great ethical weight. I believe that no one sought out the consent or permission of the use of Henrietta Lack’s cells from herself and her family because of the breakthrough that they would make in the medical field. I believe the researchers and doctors felt that by obtaining these live cells, they could be helping millions and did not really think to the extent of asking for permission. They most likely had a vision for the use of these cells and asking for the permission from the patient themselves or even their families wasn't a thought that came to mind. Furthermore, during the time period in which the medical field was in at the time of the obtaining of Henrietta’s cells, there were no laws or set
The Henrietta Lacks Story
179 Words | 1 PagesThe primary ethical issue is that doctors took Henrietta Lacks’ cells without permission. Doctor Gey forgot the patient and focused his attention on the research. Doctor Gey’s self- interest and quest for recognition allowed him to cross ethical boundaries. He took advantage of Henrietta Lacks when she was sick, vulnerable and in need of medical attention therefore, one must question his moral judgment.
Henrietta Lacks Discussion Questions
700 Words | 3 PagesParticipation Portfolio 1 Asst 3: Henrietta Lacks Discussion Questions Please answers each of the following questions, and be prepared to discuss in class 1. Please outline the history of Henrietta Lacks 's tissue cells. Who did what with the cells, when, where and for what purpose? Who benefited, scientifically, medically, and monetarily?
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