HeLa cells: what’s the controversy?

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HeLa cells are an example of an immortal cell line, which will continue to reproduce beyond the normal controls that block cell growth. They are a subject of controversy and discussion, because the original cell sample grown to grow them was taken without the consent of a patient, Henrietta Lacks. The story of these cells illustrates some of the ethical concerns involved in cell and tissue culture, as well as some missteps in the history of science. Huge scientific discoveries continue to be made thanks to HeLa cells, highlighting their contribution to science despite their origins.

Henrietta Lacks died of aggressive cervical cancer that invaded virtually her entire body in 1951. A common practice at the time, samples of the cancer cells were taken for study. Some cells were taken from a researcher who was attempting to grow immortal cell lines for scientific purposes. In the 1950s, the practice of routinely taking tissue samples without patients’ consent was not uncommon, and the anonymity of the source was not a primary concern. Then, the cells were given the codename “HeLa” for “Henrietta Lacks.”

The family later learned of the cells’ use in scientific research and were concerned that they had been used without consent. HeLa cells and the concerns surrounding them touched on several issues in medicine. One was the problem of using tissue samples without consulting patients, many of whom would freely donate if asked. Changes in the way such samples are taken and handled, and in the processes used to gather consent, have increased the use of informed consent in research. Patients submitting biopsies for diagnostic purposes, for example, might be asked if they’re willing to donate cells for research.

There has also been a historic distrust of medicine in some communities, particularly among racial minorities. Henrietta Lacks was black, and some people felt her story was part of a larger legacy of cases where people were exploited for medical research. Members of her family were subsequently asked to contribute blood for research purposes under somewhat unclear circumstances; some family members say informed consent was not obtained and they thought they were being tested for cancer, while doctors say they were briefed on the nature of the test.

Non-consensual testing of minority populations included activities such as the infamous Tuskegee syphilis experiment and research into the first dosages of birth control on Puerto Rican women, both with devastating consequences for their subjects. These studies were performed without the benefit of modern ethics review committees and protocols to protect the best interest of patients. The history of such experimentation has made some populations reluctant to trust scientists and research, which has also contributed to public health problems such as withholding treatment out of fear. Efforts by the medical community to address the origins of these fears and provide insight into steps taken to prevent similar incidents have been triggered in part by discussions of HeLa cells.

Research into the origins of HeLa cells has highlighted some historical tensions in science between the need for research and the desire to protect the health and safety of patients and research subjects. Many scientists agree that they were invaluable to scientific research. Discussions of their nebulous origins may acknowledge their importance in science while helping researchers develop better methods for gaining consensus and documenting their practices.

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