Henrietta Lacks’ Descendants Reach Settlement Over Exploitation of Famous Cell Line
More than 70 years after doctors at Johns Hopkins Hospital took Henrietta Lacks’ cervical cells without her knowledge, a settlement has been reached in a lawsuit brought by her descendants against a biotechnology company. The family accused the company, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., of profiting from the commercialization of the HeLa cell line, derived from Lacks’ cells, which played a vital role in numerous medical breakthroughs. The terms of the settlement remain confidential.
Henrietta Lacks, a Black woman from Virginia, had her cervical cells collected during a biopsy after being diagnosed with cervical cancer in 1951. Unlike other cell samples, Lacks’ cells thrived and became the first human cells to grow continuously in lab dishes. The HeLa cell line went on to revolutionize modern medicine and contributed to various scientific advancements, including the development of the polio vaccine, genetic mapping, and COVID-19 vaccines.
Despite the immense impact of Lacks’ cells, her family had never received compensation for their use. Lawyers representing the family argued that Thermo Fisher continued to profit from the HeLa cell line long after its origins were well known. The lawsuit alleged that the company unjustly enriched itself by exploiting Lacks’ cells.
Following closed-door negotiations, the settlement was announced by Attorney Ben Crump, who represents the Lacks family. Both Thermo Fisher representatives and the Lacks family’s attorneys expressed satisfaction with the resolution and declined to provide further details concerning the agreement.
The exploitation of Henrietta Lacks’ cells highlights a larger issue of racism within the U.S. medical system, according to the family’s complaint. They argue that her case is representative of a pattern of minority patients being exploited by doctors and scientists. The complaint references other instances of nonconsensual experimentation on systemically oppressed individuals throughout the history of American medical research.
Johns Hopkins, where Lacks’ cells were initially harvested, stated it never sold or profited from the HeLa cell line; however, numerous companies have patented their methods of using the cells. In 2013, Lacks’ descendants reached an agreement with the National Institutes of Health that provided them with some control over the use of the DNA code derived from HeLa cells.
The settlement brings some measure of justice to Henrietta Lacks’ family, who have waited for over 70 years for recognition. The profound impact of Lacks’ cells on medical science continues to resonate, and the settlement acknowledges the exploitation experienced by minority communities throughout history.
Henrietta Lacks’ legacy will forever be intertwined with the remarkable scientific contributions arising from the HeLa cell line. The settlement provides closure and marks a significant step towards addressing the ethical issues surrounding the use and exploitation of individuals’ cells in medical research. As the Lacks family celebrates this milestone on what would have been Henrietta Lacks’ 103rd birthday, her enduring impact on modern medicine will continue to be recognized.
