Henrietta Lacks and Medical Exploitation
During Black History Month, we honor and pay tribute to the trailblazers who have shaped our world. The impact of the atrocities committed against Black and African Americans has been deeply felt within our community. We take this moment to recognize and acknowledge that.
The effects of these historical events have contributed to a widespread mistrust of healthcare providers and the entire healthcare system. However, there are also events that have revolutionized history altogether, leaving our world a better place. Let’s talk about a woman who has made significant contributions to countless scientific breakthroughs. One who has woven her DNA into the fabric of that very same healthcare system. One who, despite being a victim of medical exploitation, is now being celebrated as the mother of modern medicine: Henrietta Lacks.
Henrietta Lacks was a poor tobacco farmer and a mother of five. In 1951, Henrietta began to experience some abnormal bleeding, which prompted her to seek medical attention. She went to Johns Hopkins Hospital, which was the only hospital treating African American patients at the time. While there, doctors discovered that she had a large tumor on her cervix and diagnosed her with cervical cancer. During the 1950s, it was common for experiments to be done and tissue samples to be taken without consent; however, this practice is now considered unethical. Henrietta’s tissues were taken without her knowledge or consent and sent for research.
These cells replicated at a rate that had never been seen before. They were given the name HeLa cells, which represented the first two letters of her first and last name. The HeLa cells have been shared widely, so much so that they have become the bedrock of modern medicine. Henrietta’s cell line has been used in the development of vaccines, including the polio vaccine, in vitro fertilization, research for leukemia, cloning, and more. HeLa cells are considered immortal and continue to survive to this day, revolutionizing medicine decades after her passing. However, despite her significant contributions to medicine, neither she nor her family received compensation or recognition until very recently.
In the previous blog, we mentioned informed consent and its importance. This time, we will discuss a term called beneficence.
Beneficence is an ethical principle that guides health care providers to do good and minimize harm. In Henrietta’s case, although the world benefited from her contributions, her family received neither recognition nor compensation. The principle of beneficence was largely disregarded, both in the unethical collection of her tissue and in the subsequent failure to provide fair acknowledgment and respect for her family.
One can understand how this can discourage members of the Black community whose participation is valued and needed, particularly for life-saving measures such as bone marrow donation. Organizations like the DKMS, however, have this principle woven into their purpose and mission, which demonstrates accountability and commitment to promoting the well-being of their patients. It is essential that both donors and recipients are treated with the utmost respect. Organizations must prioritize beneficence, which is the duty to act in the best interest of others. Knowing that our healthcare providers uphold these important principles allows us to feel confident in making decisions, such as donating bone marrow.
We also recognize and support organizations that advocate for the importance of ethical practices in healthcare. The NAACP is committed to campaigning for the need for medical professionals to act in the best interest of African American patients.
We hope you will keep this in mind when making important health decisions. It is now clear that informed consent and beneficence are crucial factors. Both principles are significant in receiving and advocating for higher quality of care. As there is a dire need for representation in bone marrow donation, we hope this will embolden you to join the bone marrow registry.
Renee DLamini is a registered nurse with over 15 years of experience in healthcare. She combines her clinical knowledge with a passion for writing informative and engaging content.