HeLa: THE CONTROVERSY OF INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS 1

HeLa: The Controversy of Individual Rights

Danny G. Lutkauskas

Harrison High School

HeLa: THE CONTROVERSY OF INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS 2

HeLa: The Controversy of Individual Rights

Henrietta Lacks [HeLa], is the face behind many modern medicines and

discoveries from putting a man on the moon to vaccines, her cells were the ones behind it all. In

the beginning doctors at John Hopkins took a sample to get a diagnosis of Henrietta’s cervical

cancer and took another sample to George Gey whom wanted to reproduce cells in a lab, all

without Henrietta’s or her family’s consent. Rebecca Skloot author of The Immortal Life of

Henrietta Lacks writes the book to present the controversy of John Hopkins doctors taking tissue

cells from Henrietta without or her family’s consent. If the doctors were to ask for consent and

Henrietta were to say no, none of the modern medicine that save people’s lives would be

manufactured. So, John Hopkins doctors had the right to take the cells from Henrietta, which in

the future would save millions of lives. For the good of all humanity does out do the right of the

individual. 

From the doctors taking Henrietta cells, she has made new medicine and discoveries back

in her time. HeLa was the first human cell to be grown in a laboratory, “HeLa cells, which never

stop dividing, have played a part in some of the most significant modern medical discoveries”

(Erin Blakemore, 2017, par. 2) making discoveries easy to find. Henrietta’s cells being the first

human cell to be grown in a lab scientist were able to find new discoveries with human tissue.

With the continuing multiplication of Henrietta cells discoveries were easy to test on human skin

without using a living human. from the medical professionals discovers Henrietta cells were

crucial in medical advances; “they helped with some of the most important advances in

medicine: the polio vaccine, chemotherapy, cloning, gene mapping, in vitro fertilization

(Rebecca Skloot, 2010, p. 2). John Hopkins doctors, from taking tissue from Henrietta has
HeLa: THE CONTROVERSY OF INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS 2

created many important discoveries that helps all of humanity today. Those doctors have given

every men and women a chance to heal from sicknesses from their discoveries with HeLa.

Not only did Henrietta cells made new discoveries they also made major advancements in

the medical field. Many medical advances were made but, “She [Henrietta Lacks] made it

possible to grow the virus so the vaccine could be developed” (Rebecca Skloot, 2000, par. 7)

with this, doctors being extremely adroit were able to save millions of lives. Not only did

Henrietta cells make new discoveries, it also made it possible to save millions of lives with a

vaccine. Henrietta’s cells are a life saver and without her none of these wonderful medical

miracles would never have been achieved. Henrietta has developed many medical advancement;

“In recent years, using tissue samples from themselves, their families, and their patients,

scientists had grown cells of all kinds—prostate cancer, appendix, foreskin, even bits of human

cornea—often with surprising ease” (Rebecca Skloot, 2010, p. 139). This discover has changed

the way doctors can reproduce, grow all kinds of cells, and assisting any person that might need

a skin replacement. Including the fact that from the discovery scientist can recreate any missing

tissue on people. Henrietta’s cells have changed the way doctors can now research and grow

different tissue cells.

Other might argue that some of the money from different scientific corporations that used

augment sales tactics to sell HeLa cells, should go to Henrietta’s family since HeLa is short for

Henrietta Lacks. Henrietta’s family was and still lives in poverty; “Hopkins say they gave them

cells away,” Lawrence yelled, “but they made millions! It is not fair! She is the most important

person in the world and her family living in poverty. If our mother so important to science, why

cannot we get health insurance” (Rebecca Skloot, 2010, p. 168). Though this is a fact, “The

Smithsonian Magazine” states, “Johns Hopkins never patented HeLa cells, and therefore does
HeLa: THE CONTROVERSY OF INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS 2

not own the rights to the HeLa cell line. Johns Hopkins also did not sell or profit from the

discovery or distribution of HeLa cells" (Erin Blakemore, 2017, par. 2).

From the doctors taking Henrietta cells they made new discoveries, new medicines,

advanced in development of medicines, and changed research for science. They had every right

to take Henrietta cells, for the good of all humanity. Though it was wrong to take without

permission those doctors from John Hopkins and Henrietta have changed the medical world for

the better.
HeLa: THE CONTROVERSY OF INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS 2

References

Skloot, R. L. (2010). The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. New York: Broadway Books. Pages

2-139

Blakemore, E. (2017, February 15). New Claims Prove the Henrietta Lacks Controversy Is Far
From Over. Retrieved October 22, 2020, from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-
news/claims-henrietta-lacks-controversy-far-from-over-180962185/

Skloot, R. (2000). Henrietta's Last Dance. Retrieved October 22, 2020, from
http://www.jhu.edu/~jhumag/0400web/01.html
HeLa: THE CONTROVERSY OF INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS 2

Footnotes
1
[Add footnotes, if any, on their own page following references. For APA formatting

requirements, it’s easy to just type your own footnote references and notes. To format a footnote

reference, select the number and then, on the Home tab, in the Styles gallery, click Footnote

Reference. The body of a footnote, such as this example, uses the Normal text style. (Note: If

you delete this sample footnote, don’t forget to delete its in-text reference as well. That’s at the

end of the sample Heading 2 paragraph on the first page of body content in this template.)]
HeLa: THE CONTROVERSY OF INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS 2

Tables

Table 1

[Table Title]

Column Column Column Column Column

Head Head Head Head Head

Row 123 123 123 123

Head
Row 456 456 456 456

Head
Row 789 789 789 789

Head
Row 123 123 123 123

Head
Row 456 456 456 456

Head
Row 789 789 789 789

Head

Note: [Place all tables for your paper in a tables section, following references (and, if applicable,

footnotes). Start a new page for each table, include a table number and table title for each, as

shown on this page. All explanatory text appears in a table note that follows the table, such as

this one. Use the Table/Figure style, available on the Home tab, in the Styles gallery, to get the

spacing between table and note. Tables in APA format can use single or 1.5 line spacing.

Include a heading for every row and column, even if the content seems obvious. A default table

style has been setup for this template that fits APA guidelines. To insert a table, on the Insert

tab, click Table.]

HeLa: THE CONTROVERSY OF INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS 2

Figures title:

Figure 1. [Include all figures in their own section, following references (and footnotes and

tables, if applicable). Include a numbered caption for each figure. Use the Table/Figure style for

easy spacing between figure and caption.]

For more information about all elements of APA formatting, please consult the APA Style

Manual, 6th Edition.