Remembering Henrietta Lacks: The Unsung Hero of Medical Science
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Chapter 1: The Legacy of HeLa Cells
HeLa cells, a remarkable immortalized human cell line, have significantly contributed to medical advancements, saving millions of lives globally. These cells have facilitated the development of vaccines for polio and COVID-19, among other medical breakthroughs. Their role in research spans various conditions, including blood disorders, Parkinson’s disease, tuberculosis, AIDS, and cancer. Additionally, HeLa cells have been pivotal in studies related to space exploration and aging. But who was the source of these invaluable cells?
The HeLa cells originated from an extraordinary young Black woman named Henrietta Lacks, who stood at just 4'11" (148.9 cm). Tragically, she passed away at the young age of 31 in 1951 due to cancer. What set her cells apart was their ability to replicate quickly and endure longer in laboratory settings than other cell lines. This unique trait allowed scientists to generate identical versions of her cells repeatedly for rigorous scientific inquiry.
Over the past seven decades, nearly 150,000 scientific publications have referenced Henrietta's HeLa cells. Even today, they remain a crucial asset in research worldwide. Unfortunately, Henrietta was unaware that her cells were being utilized for research, and she did not provide consent. However, more on that later—let’s dive deeper into her story.
Section 1.1: Henrietta's Early Life
Henrietta Lacks, born Loretta Pleasant in Virginia in 1920, faced hardship early in life. After her mother passed away during childbirth when Henrietta was just four, her father, John Pleasant, moved the family closer to relatives. The ten siblings were separated among various family members, and Henrietta went to live with her maternal grandfather, Thomas Lacks, a tobacco farmer who was also caring for other grandchildren.
The family lived in a small cabin that had once served as slave quarters on the plantation where Henrietta’s ancestors were enslaved. In this modest home, Henrietta shared a room with her cousins, including David, who would later become her husband.
Though Henrietta attended school briefly, she had to leave after sixth grade to help support her family on the tobacco farm. At just 14, she became a mother for the first time, giving birth to two children with David before they married in 1941. The couple had five children in total before Henrietta's untimely death.
Section 1.2: The Medical Journey
Henrietta gave birth to her last child in 1950, shortly before her cancer diagnosis. While pregnant, she noticed a lump in her uterus that persisted after childbirth, prompting her to seek medical help due to ongoing pain and bleeding. Unfortunately, the only hospital willing to treat Black patients at the time was Johns Hopkins Hospital.
There, Henrietta was misdiagnosed with cervical cancer, later determined to be adenocarcinoma—a more aggressive form of cancer. During her treatment, doctors collected samples of both her cancerous and healthy cells without her knowledge or consent. This was a standard practice in medicine at the time.
Despite their efforts, treatment was unsuccessful, and Henrietta passed away on October 5, 1951. She was laid to rest near her mother’s grave in Virginia, without a headstone due to financial constraints. In 2010, a family friend donated a headstone for Henrietta, and additional funds were raised to commemorate her mother as well.
Chapter 2: The Unethical Use of HeLa Cells
Henrietta’s HeLa cells, due to their remarkable characteristics, were widely shared among researchers and mass-produced to meet the high demand in science and medicine. Commercial profits were generated from the sale of her cells, yet her family remained unaware of their existence and use for nearly 25 years. They learned about the research during a chance encounter in 1975.
At that time, the practice of using cells from patients without consent was legally acceptable, and legal attempts to change this had not yet succeeded. In the 1980s, the family’s medical history was published without their permission, and in 2013, the DNA sequences of Henrietta’s cells were also made publicly available. The family objected, but legal precedent at the time prevented them from pursuing action.
The unauthorized use of Henrietta’s cells, although legal in the 1950s, is now viewed as unethical and illegal. Her case has led to the establishment of privacy and consent laws regarding human biological materials and has heightened awareness of individual rights, especially concerning DNA usage.
After several legal battles, Henrietta’s family reached agreements concerning the use and commercialization of HeLa cells, allowing them to partake in the profits derived from her legacy.
More recently, Henrietta has been honored for her immense contributions to healthcare and science. In 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) acknowledged her invaluable role in medicine, and in 2022, she was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor in the U.S. However, such recognition feels insufficient.
The world owes Henrietta Lacks a profound debt of gratitude. Without her HeLa cells, our understanding of diseases and the development of vaccines, including those for the COVID-19 pandemic, would be far less advanced. Millions of lives may have been lost without the rapid creation and distribution of vaccines made possible by research on her cells.
Henrietta Lacks, the petite woman behind the HeLa cells, stands as one of history’s overlooked heroes in the field of medicine and scientific research.
For further reading on Henrietta Lacks, consider the following:
- Book: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
- Website: Recognition of Henrietta Lacks by Johns Hopkins Medicine