The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
The issue of ethics is important both for modern and past scientists because there must be consideration of rules when researchers use human bodies for studies. Failure to follow these rules is almost criminal and can attract fines in courts of law. Henrietta Lacks’ case is a display of an abuse of human right. However, it is exceptional because it yielded exemplary results in the treatment of numerous diseases. Her case involves fascinating medical research that justifies the means of achieving the positive end of the medical research.
“The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” is an insight of the historical controversy about the use of human beings in medical research. Dr. Gey was not wrong in conducting the entire research. This may be explained by the following reasons. First of all, it is unlikely that Henrietta’s family would understand the details of the procedure because of their illiteracy (Gold 57). Most researchers on Henrietta Lacks case suggest that her family had no idea about the research until many years had passed. Even after these years, her family did not understand when they received a call that would request them to visit the hospital for further research. They interpreted the phone call from the hospital as the one that asked them to go and collect Henrietta’s live body (Sanders 1).
This indicates that even if Dr. Gey had asked for permission from her family, it would not have changed anything. Normally, the requisition for permission before using human bodies in research is aimed at ensuring that the family understands and agrees. This would be difficult in this case because of the poor and illiterate history of Henrietta. The research has also contributed to a better understanding of the impacts of the atomic bomb. This is not related to medical research; still it helps human beings in advancing their lifestyles (Alter 1).
The doctor fails to get appropriate permission from Henrietta to get the samples from her. This is wrong because medical ethical standards demand that doctors should get permission before they conduct such operations on their respective patients. The doctor is not to blame for removing the sample tissues from Henrietta’s body. This is because the doctor needed certain samples from a woman’s body to work with in his research. According to Emanuel (820), the issue of morality in such researches that involve the human body must be considered. For example, he insists that before such a delicate operation is conducted, all participants must register their concept. It is not right that doctors overlooked this requirement in Henrietta’s case.
Human experimentation should protect the vulnerable and provide extreme levels of privacy. In this research, there was minimal consideration of the above requirements. For example, Henrietta’s children suffer and cannot afford decent medical insurance. This suggests that doctors who performed this research were unprofessional. Dr. Gey and his team did not seek the permission from Henrietta’s family or Henrietta herself. It would be ethical for Dr. Gey to consult Henrietta’s family before undertaking the research that later yields several positive results. The name of the cells taken from Henrietta’s body is “HeLa’s Immortal Cells.” This is a proof that Dr. Gey’s research lasts up to date because of the immortality of the cells from Henrietta. Then it becomes irrelevant that there was no permission granted before HeLa’s cells were taken from Henrietta (Alter 1).
The development of the polio vaccine had a significant backing from Hela’s cells several years after Dr. Gey’s research. Other contributions in medical research include the use of the cells in human sensitivity to various products and impacts of radiation on the human body among other significant researches in medicine. October 11 is referred to as Henrietta Lacks Day because scientists now acknowledge that the research has had considerable results. Her family has also received several post-humus rewards because of Henrietta’s contribution to medical research. Dr. Gey’s act of removing the cells without consent could be wrong; however, no progress in medicine would have happened if Dr.Gey had not conducted the research. It is difficult to imagine that people would have died of polio because no one would have discovered the polio vaccine without the cells from Henrietta (Emanuel 828).
Apart from the fact that this research helped in further research of complicated medical research, there was no physical harm done to Henrietta. The entire operation was painless considering that Henrietta was already unconscious. The doctor’s chief agenda was not to remove the cells from Henrietta. This is because Henrietta was already suffering from the cancerous infection. The operation would be still conducted, even without the intention to remove her cells. Unfortunately, Henrietta succumbed to cancer. However, her cells have helped other cancer patients to determine the proper treatments for their cancers (Sanders 1).
Conclusively, the creation of ethical standards in any field must take certain exceptions into account. The rules should not be strict because they can prevent significant research, for example, the discovery of HeLa cells. Scientists who use human beings in their research should ensure that they explain everything to their families. This will enable them to make informed decisions. In case these scientists need to conduct further research in the future, they will have an easy time because of the consent they have received.
Works Cited
Alter, Alexenda. Recounting an untold story; Rebecca Skloot’s new book, “The immortal life of Henrietta lacks,” details the story of an African American woman whose cancer cells helped develop multiple medical advances. Wall Street Journal Web. Print.
Emanuel, Ezekiel J. The Oxford Textbook of Clinical Research Ethics. Oxford: Oxford
University Press, 2008. Print.
Gold, Michael. A Conspiracy of Cells: One Woman’s Immortal Legacy and the Medical Scandal
It Caused. Albany: State University of New York Press, 2006. Print
Sanders, Laura. “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.” Science News Mar 27 2010: 30-.
ABI/INFORM Complete. Web. 2 Oct. 2012.
