Importance Of Henrietta Lackss Cells - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 3 Words: 875 Downloads: 2 Date added: 2019/08/07 Category Medicine Essay Level High school Tags: Henrietta Lacks Essay Did you like this example? The purpose of this paper is to inform readers, about the immortal life of Henrietta Lacks and the importance of her cells. In 1951, Henrietta died of cervical cancer at John Hopkins hospital. Henrietta cells were taken without any knowledge and used to form a cell line called HeLa. No one ever knew about her personally, just only about the cells, they took from her. Scientists were using HeLa cells to develop a vaccine for polio during her time. Continuously, over time they still use these cells to find other vaccines. On August 1, 1920, Loretta Pleasant was born in Roanoke, Virginia. In 1924 after the death of her mother, she was sent to live with her grandfather where she shared a room with her first cousin David Day Lacks. When Loretta was 14, her and her cousin David had their first child who they named Lawrence. Four years later the couple had their second child, a daughter who they named Elsie. In 1941, they finally married and she decided to change her name to Henrietta Lacks. A few months after they became married, they packed all there things and moved out to Maryland. Once they arrive, they had three more children named David Jr., Deborah, and Joseph. They had to move their first daughter, Elsie, into a Hospital for the Insane because she was developmentally disable. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Importance Of Henrietta Lackss Cells" essay for you Create order At the end of 1950, Henrietta started experiencing abnormal pain and bleeding in her abdomen. She went to John Hopkins Hospital on January 29, 1951 to finally diagnose her pain. Physician Howard Jones was quick to diagnose her with cervical cancer. Two cervical samples were removed during her radiation treatment without her knowledge. Later on October 4, 1951, Henrietta died at Johns Hopkins Hospital but the cells from her tumor made its way to the laboratory of researcher Dr. George Otto Grey long before then. This was were he noticed, that unlike most cells that could only survive a few days, Henrietta cells were far more durable. He singled out and multiplied a specific cell and made a cell line. He named the sample HeLa, derived from Henrietta Lacks. Since then, over thousands of patents involving the HeLa cells have been registered. Multiple researchers use the cells to study disease and to test new products and substances(Henrietta Lacks Biography). These researches brought of the problem of ethics because she was never informed about the research. Informed consent is the patient granting they know the possible outcome when it comes to there treatment they are receiving or the surgery they are going to have. If they do not get consent it goes against the code of ethics. It is considered unethical to go through with the procedure if a patient has not okayed it or if a guardian/caretaker has made a decision. Doctors must describe the advantages of the surgery or the disadvantages of the surgery. The doctor must also get a written consent from the patient or the patients guardian/ caretaker.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Many believe that the Lacks family should not be compensated due to the fact that it was their mother who contributed to the research that America has today; they had nothing to do with it. Many would also say that the cells taken from Henrietta could have been taken from anyone else. Those who believe that, in our opinion, are wrong. The cells taken from Henrietta were taken from her tumor, not her body. General human cells, divide up to 40-50 times while Henriettas cells continue to divide. Henriettas cells have improved scientist health medication and helped human bodies for decades. The family should be compensated because of Henriettas contribution. They should also be compensated because the doctors did not ask for consent upon taking her cells.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   HeLa cells were very important in scientific and medical breakthroughs. These cells lead to some of the best scientific breakthroughs of the century. HeLa cells were useful in the research of the vaccine for Polio and other developments to help fight flu, cancer, and Parkinsons disease. Along with research came cloning and mapping genes. All of these medical breakthroughs would not be possible if not for a nearly 60 year old woman, Henrietta Lacks. Henrietta was a poor black 30 year old woman who was suffering from cervical cancer. This cancer is how HeLa was made. The doctors took cells from her tumor and started their research without her permission.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Was what the doctors did ethical? Just taking someones cells without asking for permission? Well if you did not know, every time you give blood or give some skin to any doctor they can use that for medical research. That doesnt seem ethical using peoples cells and dna without them knowing. However, scientists do it and publish there findings everywhere without most patients knowing. Ethical or not it still happens and most people never know.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Henrietta Lacks should not be known just for her cells. She was a mother and wife before anything. The way researchers did her, couldve been avoided. If they would of informed her about this earlier, than maybe the family would of reacted differently. We always have the right to anything that belongs to us. The HeLa cells did impact science in a huge way and for that we should all give big thanks to Henrietta Lacks.