Title
Cells for Sale? Business Ethics, Medical Ethics, and Henrietta Lacks
Document Type
Presentation
Publication Date
1-20-2017
Abstract
In 1951, a scientist at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, created the first immortal human cell line with a tissue sample taken from Henrietta Lacks. Lacks was young Black woman with cervical cancer, and the cells were retrieved without her permission or knowledge. Today, there are billions of HeLa cells (named derived from Henrietta Lacks) in laboratories all over the world that have used in many wonderful scientific discoveries. We will diagnose the business and medical ethics of obtaining and propagating these cells without permission or remuneration for the Lacks family.
Recommended Citation
Pembleton, Deborah and May, Barbara J., "Cells for Sale? Business Ethics, Medical Ethics, and Henrietta Lacks" (2017). Intercultural Directions Council Lectures. 14.
https://digitalcommons.csbsju.edu/idc_lectures/14