43.5k views
4 votes
Henrietta Lacks provided informed consent for her cells' use in research.

Option 1: True
Option 2: False

User Guru
by
8.4k points

1 Answer

3 votes

Final answer:

Henrietta Lacks did not provide informed consent for the use of her cells in research, as they were collected without her knowledge or permission in 1951. The HeLa cell line created from her cells has contributed significantly to medical research.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks whether Henrietta Lacks provided informed consent for her cells' use in research. The correct answer is Option 2: False. Henrietta Lacks did not provide informed consent; her cells were taken without her knowledge or permission during treatment for cervical cancer at Johns Hopkins Hospital in 1951. The cells taken from Mrs. Lacks possessed unique properties that allowed them to reproduce indefinitely, resulting in the famous HeLa cell line. These HeLa cells have been used in countless medical research breakthroughs, including the development of the polio vaccine and advances in cancer and AIDS research, without acknowledgment or compensation to Henrietta Lacks or her family for many years. This case has stimulated extensive discussion and debate surrounding the ethics of informed consent and usage of biological materials.

No, Henrietta Lacks did not provide informed consent for her cells' use in research. The cells were taken without her knowledge or permission. Her cells, known as HeLa cells, were collected and shared by doctors at Johns Hopkins Hospital for medical research without her consent. Despite the immense contributions of her cells to scientific advancements, Henrietta Lacks and her family did not benefit financially from their use.

User Huck
by
7.8k points