What ethical issue is highlighted by the Henrietta Lacks case?

• A. Her cancer cells were obtained with informed consent
• B. They were cultured and sold without her knowledge and consent
• C. They were used only for cancer research
• D. They were never used in research

Answer: (B)

Informed consent and the rights to one’s tissue are the central issues here. Henrietta Lacks’ cervical cancer tissue was taken and cultured into the HeLa cell line without her knowledge or consent, and without any compensation to her family. Those cells were then distributed widely and used in countless studies and even commercial products, fueling major advances in science. This case highlights the ethical tension between advancing medical knowledge and respecting patient autonomy, privacy, and the fair sharing of benefits from research. The other statements don’t fit because there was no consent given, HeLa cells have been used far beyond cancer research, and the cells were indeed used in research.