Analyzing Ethical Principles: The Case of Henrietta Lacks' Cells

This essay explores the ethical principles of self-determination, justice, and respect in clinical research, using the case of Henrietta Lacks as a prime example of ethical breaches. It highlights how Lacks' malignant cells were collected and used for research without her informed consent, leading to significant profits for researchers while she and her family remained marginalized. The essay argues that this case demonstrates a violation of Lacks' right to self-determination, as she was not given the choice to consent to the use of her cells. It also points out the injustice in profiting from her cells without providing her or her family with any compensation or recognition. Furthermore, the genome of her cell line was later placed on public databases, again breaching the principle of self-determination. The essay concludes by emphasizing the need for stronger measures to protect human rights in research and to ensure that vulnerable populations are not exploited.

Running head: Ethical principles
ETHICAL PRINCIPLES

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Ethical principles
Just like in any other researches, ethics is a highly important issue in clinical researches
that is needed to be properly followed by the researchers while using information from human
subjects. The legislations have been being modified every now and then in order to give justice
to the ethical principles in researches. Among these, ethical principles of self determination,
justice and respect are some very important ones that are breached commonly in many
researches. According to Faden (2013), principle of self determination refers to the choice given
to the human beings to say either no or yes regarding their participation in any research process.
This is not about giving respect to the particular human subject but it is about informed consent
of that person about whether to disclose personal information publically for research work or not.
This is mainly significant in medical researches where many people go for getting treated
for the diseases they suffer from. It has been seen that mostly vulnerable group of people suffer
from getting used in biological researches without being aware of it. On the other hand, the
ethical principle of justice is also related in these types of cases as the victims do not get any
justice after misuse of their body cells or tissues or something else because of their lack of proper
universal legislations regarding this (Guraya, London & Guraya, 2014). The case of Henrietta
Lacks is one popular case in the history of clinical research that is related with the issue of
breaching affirmative consent. As mentioned by Rao (2016), Henrietta Lacks was a poor colored
lady whose malignant cells were collected by some researchers for research work while she had
no idea about that. Later it turned out that her cells became one of the best selling cell lines for
having the ability to give important knowledge about cancer and for being used successfully in
treating polio. The case is very important in the discussion of breaching of ethical principles in
researches because one whole experiment was done using solely her cells and many people got a
huge amount of profit because of doing that and even the popular cell is now named after her.
On the other hand, she and her family still remained poor and got no share of the profits
based upon her body cells. In addition, recently the genome of her cell line has been put on
public databases again by breaching the principle of self determination. As mentioned earlier,
this is mainly seen in cases where poor or marginalized people are involved who are scarcely
aware of their rights. In this context, it can be added that apart from being uninformed about the
research, she has also not been given the credit she deserves for contributing in the research

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Ethical principles
itself. Thus, it can be said that all the three above mentioned ethical principles have been
breached in the example that has been discussed. Moreover, this could be avoided and can be
avoided in future by taking proper measures for protecting human rights.

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Ethical principles
Reference list
Faden, R. R., Kass, N. E., Goodman, S. N., Pronovost, P., Tunis, S., & Beauchamp, T. L. (2013).
An ethics framework for a learning health care system: a departure from traditional
research ethics and clinical ethics. Hastings Center Report, 43(s1), S16-S27. Retrieved
on: 11th Feb, 2019, From:
http://www.thehastingscenter.org/uploadedFiles/About/Hastings_Center_Currents/
HCCurrentsSummer13.pdf
Guraya, S. Y., London, N. J. M., & Guraya, S. S. (2014). Ethics in medical research. Journal of
Microscopy and Ultrastructure, 2(3), 121-126. Retrieved on: 11th Feb, 2019, From:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213879X14000224
Rao, R. (2016). Informed consent, body property, and self-sovereignty. The Journal of Law,
Medicine & Ethics, 44(3), 437-444. Retrieved on: 11th Feb, 2019, From:
https://repository.uchastings.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?
article=2534&context=faculty_scholarship