The immortal Henrietta Lacks

Henrietta Lacks. Does the name ring a bell? Don’t be surprised if you’ve never heard of her, its not surprising. In the U.S., many of us are used to the blanket of white supremacy covering the most valued of contributions made by Black people, whether those contributions are voluntary or involuntary as in the case of Henrietta Lacks. So let me try again. Have you heard of the polio vaccine? I know that you have, but not heard of Henrietta Lacks who’s cells actually formed the basis for Jonas Salk’s polio vaccine that saved millions around the world.

Mrs. Lacks, in February1951, was diagnosed with cervical cancer and prior to treatment, in the negro ward of John Hopkins hospital, some of tissue from the cancerous tumor was taken to a research lab for study without Mrs. Lacks ‘permission. (Does tissue belong to you upon entering a hospital, clinic or doctor’s office?) During laboratory testing it was found that the cells from Mrs. Lacks would overtake and “contaminate” any cells, even in another Petri dish that the dish with Mrs. Lacks’ cells came in contact with. Since her death, HeLa cells have been used in the formation of the polio vaccines, break throughs in Parkinson’s disease, herpes , the flu, Aids , and radiation poisoning. Not to mention research in human reaction to tape, glue and most importantly the Human Genome Project.

Through a witches brew of human placenta blood, cow embryo blood and chicken blood Mrs. Lacks’ cells would become immortal. In fact one physician believes more that 50 million metric tons of Henrietta Lacks’ cells have been grown and sent/sold to laboratories around the world. Indeed, Henrietta Lacks is not only alive through her children, but she is alive around the world immortally. Sadly, and all too common, in the U.S., her family has never been compensated for their mother’s immortal contribution to medical science. Deborah Lacks-Pullum bitterly stated.

 "We never knew they took her cells, and people done got filthy rich [from HeLa-based research], but we don't get a dime," she says. The family can't afford a reputable lawyer to press its case for some financial stake in the work. She says she has appealed to Hopkins for help, and "all they do is pat me on my shoulder and put me out the door." Mrs. Henrietta Lacks is buried in an unmarked grave in Lackstown, Virginia.

Comments

[builsspiz]

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