The cancerous cells divide rapidly and uncontrollably leading to emergence of tumor. These cells’ growth cannot be controlled by the body system as opposed to the healthy cells. On the other hand, the growth of body cells is density dependent and cannot surpass the required number. Cancerous cells rapidly reproduce but do not mature, hence useless to human body. The ethical issue that emerged in Ms. Lacks’ case was lack of consent from tissue donor. The cells of Ms. Lacks were used for cancer research with neither her consent nor her family’s. Even though many patients’ tissues are used for scientific research without their consent, it is unethical act. It is a means of exploitation by scientists. In his case, the Lack’s family had donated blood believing that they were being examined of cancer while their issues were being used for medical tests. However, the scientists argue that consents and ownerships would delay scientific processes because most of these breakthroughs are not patients’ inventions but coincidental success.
The federal government had initially proposed the need for researchers to get the patients’ consent before using their tissues for research. However, the proposal was termed controversial and revoked for it would slow the research process and would be costly to researchers. The scientists’ worry is that the consent might pose privacy risks on the samples.
Henrietta Lacks was a black tobacco farmer, who did not afford health insurance and was illiterate too. Definitely, lack of economic abilities exposed her to poor health services. It would be argued that the doctor exploited her illiteracy and poor background to use her cells without her children’s consent. This event occurred in a period when racism was commonly practiced in the United States. Therefore, it might be concluded that the white doctors were using the poor blacks as specimen for medical studies. Despite all the efforts by the family demanding for compensation, they have not been compensated by John Hopkins. The hospital argues that it has not patented these cells and not liable for compensation.