Henrietta Lacks — The unsung hero of the medical world

The cells of Henrietta Lacks have been instrumental in advancing the bioscience field, saving countless lives, but their use was tainted with injustice. Her story is a reminder of the importance of informed consent in medical research.

In 1951, a young mother walked into Johns Hopkins Hospital — one of the few hospitals to treat poor African Americans at the time.

The woman, Henrietta Lacks, was later told by her doctors that she had a malignant form of cervical cancer. From then on, a series of revolutionary advances in the medical industry masked as many instances of injustice.

Background of Henrietta Lacks

To those close to her, Henrietta was known to be a loving mother, wife, and friend. At a time when cervical cancer was a very deadly disease with high mortality rates, Henrietta’s resilient attitude never faltered.

During Henrietta’s biopsy, unbeknownst to her, a sample of her cancer cells was sent to Dr. George Gey who for years was collecting cells from many patients for research. Medical records show that despite several radium therapies, her cancer was too advanced and…