How Did Henrietta Lacks Use Ethics In The Medical Field

The topic and history of medical ethics has consistently been a strongly debated issue. With numerous case-specific situations concerning as well as qualifying the matter, perhaps one of the most influential and debatable stories may be that of Henrietta Lacks. With non consensual tissue samples taken, unauthorized distribution of her cells, and seemingly careless radiation treatment for cervical cancer, it might be fair to adjudicate that the lack of ethical practice was apparent and almost even fatal. In the case study of Sofia (“Ethics in The Medical Field: Sofia’s Case Study”), withholding seemingly necessary and vital information from a patient is in fact ethical. However, this might be one of the rarer cases in medical ethics. The

Every doctor is allowed that fact; however, an excuse for lack of ethics is never the case. The amount of pure defiance of any ethical practice in the case of Henrietta, her cells, and her family is absurd and almost unrealistic. “There's no indication that Henrietta questioned [her doctor]; like most patients in the 1950s, she deferred to anything her doctors said. This was a time when “benevolent deception” was a common practice- doctors often withheld even the most fundamental information from their patients, sometimes not giving them any diagnosis at all. They believed it was best not to confuse or upset patients with frightening terms they might not understand, like cancer. Doctors knew best, and most patients didn't question that” (Skloot 63). Granted, the main distributors of the HeLa cells tried with all of their power to conceal the real identity of the cell’s owner; however their prevention to do so also prevented the Lacks family from knowing that Henrietta’s cells were still alive (Skloot

“As a member of this profession, a physician must recognize responsibility to patients first and foremost, as well as to society, to other health professionals, and to self,” (“Principles of Medical Ethics”). These learned principles include compassion towards patients, respect, and equality involving health care. The treatment provided to Henrietta Lacks for her cancer was compassionless, the respect shown to the Lacks family after Henrietta’s death as they continued to distribute her cells was far from respectful, and the John Hopkins hospital, Henrietta’s hospital was not in the practice of equality at the time of this