Henrietta Lacks

Definition

Henrietta Lacks was an African American woman whose cancer cells were taken without her knowledge in 1951, leading to the creation of the HeLa cell line. These cells became crucial for numerous medical breakthroughs and research, raising significant ethical questions surrounding consent and the treatment of marginalized individuals in medical research.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Henrietta's cells were taken during a routine medical procedure at Johns Hopkins Hospital without her consent, a common practice for that time.
2. The HeLa cell line has contributed to significant medical advancements, including the development of the polio vaccine, cancer research, and gene mapping.
3. Henrietta Lacks did not know that her cells were being used for research until years after her death, leading to discussions about the ethics of using human tissues without consent.
4. Her story has highlighted the disparities in healthcare and medical research, especially regarding race and socioeconomic status.
5. The legacy of Henrietta Lacks has spurred changes in policies surrounding informed consent and ethics in medical research.

Review Questions

• How did Henrietta Lacks' case highlight the importance of informed consent in medical research?
  • Henrietta Lacks' case is pivotal in emphasizing informed consent because her cells were taken without her knowledge or permission. This raised serious ethical concerns about patient autonomy and the right to make informed choices regarding one’s own body. The controversy surrounding her case has led to more stringent requirements for obtaining consent from patients before using their biological materials in research.
• Discuss the implications of HeLa cells on biomedical research and how they relate to issues of bioethics.
  • HeLa cells have played a significant role in biomedical research, enabling breakthroughs such as the development of vaccines and cancer treatments. However, this success is overshadowed by ethical concerns regarding how these cells were obtained without Henrietta Lacks' consent. This situation has sparked discussions about bioethics, particularly focusing on the need for equitable treatment of individuals whose biological materials are used for scientific advancements.
• Evaluate the impact of Henrietta Lacks’ legacy on modern medical ethics and policies regarding patient rights.
  • Henrietta Lacks' legacy has profoundly influenced modern medical ethics by exposing injustices in how marginalized populations are treated in clinical settings. Her story has prompted revisions in policies related to patient rights and informed consent, encouraging healthcare providers to prioritize transparency and respect for individuals’ autonomy. As a result, contemporary medical practices are increasingly focused on ethical standards that protect patients from exploitation while promoting trust within healthcare systems.

Related terms

Informed Consent:

The process by which a patient voluntarily confirms their willingness to participate in a medical study after being informed of all relevant facts, including potential risks.

HeLa Cells: A continuous cell line derived from Henrietta Lacks' cervical cancer cells, which were the first human cells successfully cloned and have been used extensively in scientific research.

Bioethics: The study of ethical issues arising from advances in biology and medicine, particularly concerning human rights, consent, and the moral implications of medical practices.