The Ethical Implications of Henrietta Lacks' Story in Medical Research

In Rebecca Skloot's book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, she delves into the story of Henrietta and her family to uncover the impact of her cells on the field of medicine. Skloot begins her narrative by recalling a moment in class when her professor mentions the name "Henrietta Lacks" in relation to cell reproduction and the successful cultivation of her cancer cells (Skloot, 2017). Intrigued by this topic, Skloot embarks on a journey to learn more about Henrietta's life and the ethical implications surrounding her cells.

Throughout the novel, Skloot emphasizes the lack of knowledge and understanding that Henrietta's family had regarding what had happened to their mother. All they knew was that she had fallen ill and subsequently passed away (Skloot, 2017). As an African-American woman, Henrietta may have received substandard care that would not have been given to a white patient. This highlights the presence of poor medical ethics and the violation of human rights that Skloot explores in her book (Skloot, 2017).

Henrietta's experience raises important ethical questions regarding the ownership of a patient's biological material, such as cells, after their death. In Henrietta's case, her cervical tissue was used for cell cultures without her or her family's informed consent (Skloot, 2017). Today, the "HeLa" cells derived from Henrietta's tissue are widely used in research and have contributed to numerous scientific discoveries (Skloot, 2017). However, Henrietta's family did not receive proper compensation for the use of her cells, and they faced numerous challenges, including a lack of medical care (Skloot, 2017).

Skloot also highlights the violation of privacy rights suffered by Henrietta's family when the connection between the "HeLa" cells and Henrietta was made public without their consent (Skloot, 2017). The commercialization of human biological material, such as cells and genes, raises significant ethical concerns regarding informed consent, privacy rights, and the sharing of profits (Cho et al., 2015). It is crucial for donors to be fully informed about the potential uses of their biological material and have the opportunity to give or withhold consent.

While the law dictates that once a donor's biological material is removed from their body, they lose ownership rights, it is important to consider the ethical implications of this (Cho et al., 2015). Donors should be acknowledged and rewarded for their contributions to scientific discoveries and advancements. In the case of Henrietta Lacks, her cells played a crucial role in medical research, yet she and her family were not properly recognized or compensated (Skloot, 2017).

In conclusion, Skloot's exploration of Henrietta Lacks' story sheds light on the ethical and moral aspects that were overlooked during the mid-20th century. The issue of ownership and commercial utilization of human biological material continues to be a subject of debate. Informed consent should be a priority, and research institutions should consider implementing models to reward donors for their contributions. Scientific discoveries and advancements should be celebrated alongside the individuals who made them possible, such as Henrietta Lacks and her family (Skloot, 2017).

References

1. Cho, M. K., Magnus, D., & Wilfond, B. S. (2015). Informed consent for research on medical practices. Annals of Internal Medicine, 163(9), 725-726.
2. Skloot, R. (2017). The immortal life of Henrietta Lacks. Broadway Paperbacks.