TILoHeLa Blog #2

Antonio Garcia

August 1st, 2013

TILoHeLa Blog #2

One of the arguments against giving people legal ownership of their tissues is summarized in the following quote from David Korn, vice provost for research at Harvard University: “I think people are morally obligated to allow their bits and pieces to be used to advance knowledge to help others. Since everybody benefits, everybody can accept the small risks of having their tissue scraps used in research.” However, in a profit-driven health care system, all citizens do not have equal access to the treatments and medications made possible by tissue and cell research. What are the intended and unintended consequences of a profit-driven health care system?

The statement by David Korn is with good intentions but, implausible. Scientific medical research would greatly benefit from easy access to biological samples such as cells and tissues however, not all would be able to reap the rewards of such research given the type of health care system that is used in the United States. These types of issues appear as a common theme in Rebeccas Skloot’s book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. In Skloot’s account of Henrietta Lacks’ life, cell and tissue samples were taken from her without knowing they would be used for scientific research. The cells became famous and known as “HeLa Cells” which were used to develop cures for many diseases such as the polio vaccine and to help understand the structure and behavior of cells. Unfortunately, Lacks and her family were oblivious to what was being done to her cell samples, and felt that they were owed at least recognition for what the cells help discover. 

The consequence of a profit-driven health care system is that not are able to afford the health care and benefit from the medical break throughs done through research. It is understandable that such research is expensive however, the health care system should be fair to all to prevent events like the ones accounted in Skloot’s book. Lacks’ and her family did not have a fair opportunity for education and thus do not have finical security. The book accounts that much of Lack’s family have a low income and cannot afford health care. Many members of Lacks family felt it was unfair that the industry made a high profit off the HeLa cells while the family of the cell donor are suffering from illness and cannot afford health care. 

Among one of the issues of sampling from patients for scientific medical research is the issue of privacy and the right of ownership of biological samples. The samples taken from Lacks was taken without her knowing that they would be used for research. It disturbed Lacks’ family to know that after twenty years, cells that originated from Henrietta Lacks still existed and in great quantities. They were appalled that they were never given a consent form and felt that they deserved the right to know that her cells were being used for research. The book also accounts other events such as a research institutions storing a wide range of biological samples in large quantities. Then when patients found out they demanded that their samples be destroyed. Patients should have the right to know that their biological samples are being stored and possibly used for research because practices considered unethical may not be accepted by the donors. HeLa cells were one of the first cells that under went cell hybridization and cloning, many consider this playing God and unethical, therefore the opinions of the donors should be considered. The book accounts that HeLa cells were injected into patients to test if the cancer is contagious, this is also a controversial procedure and one that was never discussed with Henrietta Lacks. 

Scientific medical research is very beneficial to society given that it can create new technology that will aid human health. Unfortunately, ethics and morals become a concern with some of the procedures involved.  Skloot’s account of Henrietta Lacks suggest that the opinions and civil rights of the donors should be respected given that the research done can impact the lives of the donors as well as their families. Economics should be considered as well given that the scientific industry can make billions of dollars while the donors of the biological samples being mass produced, are left poor and without medical care themselves.