“Henrietta Lacks’s story has brought public attention to a number of ethical issues in biomedical research, including the role of informed consent, privacy, and commercialization in the collection, use and dissemination of biospecimens ,” Dr.
What was the ethical issue that arises from the discovery of the HeLa cells?
However, there’s always been an ethical issue with HeLa cell use: the cells were originally harvested without knowledge or consent , and her family wasn’t even made aware for over 20 years.
Why was taking Henrietta Lacks cells unethical?
“HeLa was mass-produced to help researchers of cancer, herpes, leukemia, sexually transmitted diseases, Parkinson’s disease, appendicitis, hemophilia and gene mapping. But their harvest was illegal. The Lacks family had no awareness that Henrietta’s cells were being used for research .
Why HeLa cells are unethical?
Some have called for a reduction in the use of HeLa cells in research, or even an end to their use entirely. The argument is that, because the cells were obtained without Lacks’s knowledge or consent (even though this was legal at the time), any use of them is unethical and perpetuates an injustice.
What is one ethical problem with how HeLa cells have been obtained and used over the few decades?
Since they grow so well in culture and are immortal, they can easily contaminate non-HeLa cell cultures. Contamination of other cells by HeLa cells is a widely acknowledged problem and it has led to some research being invalidated once the contamination was discovered.
When were Henrietta’s cells taken?
In 1951 , a scientist at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, created the first immortal human cell line with a tissue sample taken from a young black woman with cervical cancer. Those cells, called HeLa cells, quickly became invaluable to medical research—though their donor remained a mystery for decades.
What are ethical issues Name different ethical issues?
Fundamental ethical issues in business include promoting conduct based on integrity and trust , but more complex issues include accommodating diversity, empathetic decision-making, and compliance and governance that is consistent with the organization’s core values.
Did Henrietta Lacks know about her cells?
In 1951, Henrietta Lacks was diagnosed with a particularly aggressive form of cervical cancer . During her diagnosis and treatment process, cells were taken from her cervix and passed onto medical researchers without her knowledge or consent. Prior to this, scientists were unable to grow human cells outside of the body.
Are HeLa cells still alive?
The HeLa cell line still lives today and is serving as a tool to uncover crucial information about the novel coronavirus. HeLa cells were the first human cells to survive and thrive outside the body in a test tube.
Are HeLa cells the only immortal cells?
HeLa cells are not the only immortal cell line from human cells , but they were the first. Today new immortal cell lines can either be discovered by chance, as Lacks’s were, or produced through genetic engineering. ... According to some scientists, the HeLa cell line should properly be considered its own species.
How old are HeLa cells?
It is the oldest and most commonly used human cell line. The line is named after and derived from cervical cancer cells taken on February 8, 1951, from Henrietta Lacks, a 31-year-old African-American mother of five, who died of cancer on October 4, 1951.
What did HeLa cells cure?
Among the important scientific discoveries of the last century was the first immortal human cell line known as “HeLa” — a remarkably durable and prolific line of cells obtained during the treatment of Henrietta’s cancer by Johns Hopkins researcher Dr.
Why HeLa cells are special?
1- HeLa cells are cancerous . ... 2- HeLa cells grow unusually fast, even considering their cancerous state. Indeed, HeLa cells grow easily and rapidly, doubling cellular count in only 24 hours, making them ideal for large scale testing. They grow so fast that they can contaminate and overtake other cell cultures.
How did the Lacks family find out about HeLa?
For decades, Lacks’s family was kept in the dark about what happened to her cells. In 1973, the family learned the truth when scientists asked for DNA samples after finding that HeLa had contaminated other samples .
How much is the HeLa cell line worth?
Scientists today buy HeLa cells and cells with modifications for anywhere from $400 to thousands of dollars per vial .
How were Henrietta Lacks cells obtained?
Lacks was the unwitting source of these cells from a tumor biopsied during treatment for cervical cancer at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S., in 1951. ... These cells were then cultured by George Otto Gey who created the cell line known as HeLa, which is still used for medical research.
