Henrietta Lacks

Henrietta Pleasant Lacks (August 1, 1920 – October 4, 1951) was an African American tobacco farmer whose cancer cells have been used extensively in medical research since 1951. When Lacks sought treatment for cervical cancer at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, cells were removed from her cervix without her knowledge or consent—a common but unethical practice at the time. These cells, labeled HeLa cells, proved to be remarkably durable and prolific, becoming invaluable for medical science. They were used to develop the polio vaccine, test chemotherapy drugs, study the effects of radiation, and contribute to gene mapping and cloning research. Despite the immense value generated from her cells—worth billions of dollars in medical research—Lacks and her family received no compensation and were largely unaware of their use until decades later. Her story became a landmark case in medical ethics and informed consent. Today, Henrietta Lacks is recognized as a pioneering figure in medical science, and her legacy has sparked important conversations about patient rights, racial justice in healthcare, and the ethics of medical research.