Henrietta Lacks’ family settles lawsuit against biotech company profiting from her cancer cells without consent.
Henrietta Lacks' family settles lawsuit against biotech company profiting from her cancer cells without consent.
Henrietta Lacks and the Legacy of Uncompensated Medical Breakthroughs
In 1951, the medical world witnessed a groundbreaking event that would forever change the landscape of modern medicine. Doctors at Johns Hopkins Hospital unknowingly took Henrietta Lacks’ cervical cells, setting in motion a cascade of scientific advancements. Fast forward to 2021, and the Lacks family has finally reached a settlement with a biotechnology company they sued, demanding compensation for the exploitation of their matriarch’s cells. This settlement marks a significant milestone in the long and unjust history of uncompensated medical breakthroughs.
Tissue taken from Henrietta Lacks’ tumor before her death from cervical cancer became the first human cells successfully cloned. These cells, known as HeLa cells, have since become a cornerstone of modern medicine. They have played a crucial role in countless scientific and medical innovations, including the development of the polio vaccine, genetic mapping, and even COVID-19 vaccines. While HeLa cells have transformed medicine as we know it, the Lacks family has never received any compensation for the immense contributions of their ancestor.
The harvesting of Henrietta Lacks’ cells occurred in 1951, a time when consent procedures in medical and scientific research were vastly different from today. However, the family’s lawyers argued that Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., a biotech company based in Waltham, Massachusetts, continued to profit from the commercialization of HeLa cells long after their origins became known. This legal battle culminated in a settlement agreement that was reached after closed-door negotiations in a federal courthouse in Baltimore.
Attorney Ben Crump, representing the Lacks family, announced the settlement late Monday but did not disclose the specific terms. The resolution of this case represents a significant step towards rectifying the injustice faced by the Lacks family for over 70 years. While Thermo Fisher representatives have yet to respond to requests for comment, this settlement sends a powerful message about the need for fair compensation in cases of medical breakthroughs derived from human cells.
The story of Henrietta Lacks and her immortal HeLa cells has captivated the public’s attention for years. Her cells have proven to possess unique properties that enable them to survive and thrive in laboratory environments. This exceptional quality allowed scientists to cultivate her cells indefinitely, making them the first immortalized human cell line. The far-reaching implications of this scientific marvel, coupled with the ongoing struggles faced by the Lacks family, were poignantly chronicled in Rebecca Skloot’s bestselling book, “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.” This story even made its way to the screen, with Oprah Winfrey portraying Lacks’ daughter in an HBO film adaptation.
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Henrietta Lacks, aged 31 at the time of her death, was buried in an unmarked grave. As a poor tobacco farmer from southern Virginia, she was raising five children when her cancer was discovered. Johns Hopkins Hospital, while stating that they never sold or profited from the cell lines, acknowledged that many companies have patented ways to use HeLa cells. This acknowledgment underscores the exploitative nature of the medical research industry and the urgent need to address the issue of uncompensated medical breakthroughs.
Beyond the specific circumstances of Henrietta Lacks’ case, her story highlights a more profound and systemic issue ingrained within the American medical system – racism. Her treatment and the subsequent exploitation of her cells serve as stark reminders of the historical and ongoing struggles faced by Black individuals in the medical field. In their complaint, Lacks’ descendants emphasized that her exploitation epitomizes the broader experiences of Black people throughout history, exposing the pervasive nature of medical racism in the United States.
Thermo Fisher argued for the dismissal of the case, citing the expiration of the statute of limitations. However, the Lacks family’s attorneys argued that the continuous benefitting from the cells by the company should exempt them from such limitations. The settlement reached represents a victory for the Lacks family, bringing attention to the ethical dimensions of medical research and the importance of rightful compensation.
On what would have been Henrietta Lacks’ 103rd birthday, civil rights attorney Ben Crump joined the family to announce the settlement and pay tribute to her memory. The celebration included balloons and a cake, symbolizing the long-awaited justice in the fight for recognition of Henrietta Lacks’ significant contributions to modern medicine.
In recognition of her life-saving contributions, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin introduced a bill to posthumously award Henrietta Lacks the Congressional Gold Medal. This formal acknowledgment seeks to honor her legacy and ensure that her story continues to resonate with future generations.
The settlement reached between the Lacks family and Thermo Fisher represents a pivotal moment in the ongoing battle for justice in the realm of medical breakthroughs. The case highlights the need to address the exploitation of individuals whose contributions have revolutionized medicine. Moving forward, it is essential to establish ethical frameworks that provide fair compensation for the unwitting donors whose cells have paved the way for extraordinary scientific advancements. The legacy of Henrietta Lacks serves as a reminder that progress in medicine should never come at the expense of respect, fairness, and compensation for those involved.
