DocSoc Presentation 10/11/17

1. THE HELA CELL LINE
By Melodi Mangan – Doctor’s Society – 10/11/17

2. Immortalisation
• Gey had been trying to create immortalised human cells in culture for years
• Henrietta’s were the first human cells ever to
be immortalised in vitro
* He ordered his assistant to take more of her cells
in her autopsy, which he then cultured using the
roller tube technique

3. Advances in medical research
• The cells were shipped around the world with instructions on how to grow them.
• They have been used in
- Developing the polio vaccine
- Developing the HPV vaccine
- Development of anti-tumour medicines, haemophilia, Parkinson’s disease,
influenza and leukemia
- Understanding of viruses, cancer and human cells
- Mapping the human genome

4. Ethical Contention
• The cells were taken without knowledge or consent
• White scientists made billions of dollars from Henrietta’s cells, while Henrietta’s
children didn’t even know they existed, and lived in poverty
• Site of HeLa factory was the same institute where theTuskegee trials took place
• To this day, one has no legal right to decide what happens to their tissue after
death

6. Offences under HumanTissueAct
• “Removing, storing or using human tissue for Scheduled Purposes without
appropriate consent.
• Storing or using human tissue donated for a Scheduled Purpose for another purpose.
• Trafficking in human tissue for transplantation purposes.
• Carrying out licensable activities without holding a licence from the HTA (with lower
penalties for related lesser offences such as failing to produce records or obstructing
the HTA in carrying out its power or responsibilities).
• Having human tissue, including hair, nail, and gametes (i.e. cells connected with
sexual reproduction), with the intention of its DNA being analysed without the
consent of the person from whom the tissue came or of those close to them if they
have died. (Medical diagnosis and treatment, criminal investigations, etc., are
excluded).”

7. Loose ends
• George Gey contracted pancreatic cancer, and his last wish was to have his tissue
immortalised and used in research
• During surgery, the doctor ignored his wish. He was furious when he woke up, and
died shortly afterwards.
• Her family still has no right to their mother’s cells.They plan to file a lawsuit
against John Hopkins hospital
• The cells are still used in labs around the world today, and will continue to leave a
legacy on medical research and all of our lives.

8. Discussion questions
• Was it right for the researchers to take her cells without her permission? What
motives do you think they had for doing so?
• Henrietta did sign a consent form for the operation.Was that enough?
• Henrietta What would you do if you made a similar discovery about a family
member as the Lacks family did?
• To what extent is this a story about race?
• “But I always have thought it was strange, if our mother cells done so much for
medicine, how come her family can’t afford to see no doctors? Don’t make no
sense” – should the Lacks family be compensated, and if so, where should the
money come from?