Life of Henrietta Lacks
Henrietta Lacks was a young African American woman who lived between 1920 and 1951. Henrietta was raised by her grandfather in Virginia. In 1941 she married her cousin David, and after a while the family moved to Turner Station, Maryland, during World War II to live with David. In 1950 the doctors at John Hopkins diagnosed Henrietta with a cervical tumor following the birth of her 5th child. While Henrietta received radium treatments, the medical professionals took tissue samples from her tumor and healthy cervical nearby without informed consent. Dr. George Gey, a pioneer in tissue culture research, studied Henrietta's cell line. Henrietta Lacks cells were extraordinary, they were the first line of "immortal cells".
How has Henrietta Lacks's cells impacted the world?
HeLa cells led to an abundance of medical advancements. Usually when cells are extracted from bodies their life span is short and they don't multiply much. However, Henrietta's tumor cells remained alive and exponentially grew. This was perfect for medical research as scientists could test the effects of drugs on cells, observe how viruses affected cells, and the list goes on. Here are some of the most notable advancements and studies HeLa cells have led to:
- Test how various diseases affected human cells, being able to create vaccines for diseases like polio and even COVID-19.
- Development of cancer treatments
- How different sexually transmitted diseases work
- Create In vitro fertilization(IVF)
- Treatments for blood disorders such as leukemia and sickle cell anemia
- How cells age
- The mapping of the Human Genome
- The effects of radiation on humans
"Statue of Henrietta Lacks, Bristol." Wikimedia Commons, Accessed February 21, 2025. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Statue_of_Henrietta_Lacks,_Bristol.
The Ethical Dilemma
There is no doubt HeLa cells has aided in medical research tremendously, it has been in over 75000+ studies worldwide. However, Henrietta was never informed the doctors took her tissues, nor did her family. Her family was not compensated for a while either. Her cells were also given to anyone who requested without her families consent or knowledge. This case was very important in helping reform bioethics, especially in protecting the bodily autonomy of all races and gender, as well as the prioritization of informed consent.