Henrietta Lacks’ family members reach an agreement after her cells undergo advanced medical tests

Biotechnology laboratory equipment company Thermo Fisher Scientific has reached a settlement with the estate of Henrietta Lacks, whose descendants “have accused [the company] reaping billions of dollars from a racist medical system.”

Although the terms of the settlement are confidential, Ben Crump, one in every of Lacks’ family attorneys, said: “The parties are pleased to have found a way to resolve this matter out of court and will have no further comment on the settlement.”

The settlement was announced on Tuesday, October 1, during a press conference for what would have been Lacks’ 103^R&D birthday. Renowned civil rights lawyer Crump said, “We did it – and what a birthday present today.”

Lacks’ life story and legacy became widely known after Rebecca Skloot’s 2010 book “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” became a best-seller, followed by a 2017 feature film starring Oprah Winfrey on HBO.

When doctors o Johns Hopkins treated Lacks for cervical cancer in 1951, they removed tissue samples from her cervix without her knowledge or consent. “They found that in the lab, instead of dying, cells doubled in size every 20 to 24 hours.” Talk about Black Girl cell magic!

These cells, now generally known as HeLa the cells “were the first human cells that scientists were able to clone and have since been multiplied indefinitely.” Although Lacks died of the disease on the age of 31, her cells survived without end.

Not only were they everlasting, but HeLa cells also became… support “modern medicine, enabling countless scientific and medical innovations, including the development of a polio vaccine, genetic mapping and even vaccines for Covid-19,” in addition to treatments for cancer, HIV/AIDS, Parkinson’s disease and leukemia. HeLa The cells were also used to “study the effects of radiation on human cells and develop a treatment for sickle cell disease.”

But the worst part was that Lacks’ family had no idea about it. They didn’t find out about their ancestors’ contributions to medicine until many years later and were never compensated.

John Hopkins stated that the institution “has never sold or profited from the discovery or distribution of HeLa cells and has no rights to the HeLa cell line”; nevertheless, “many companies have patented ways to use them.”

IN 2021“The Lacks estate sued Thermo Fisher in federal court in Baltimore… claiming that her family “did not see a penny” of the cash Thermo Fisher made by cultivating a “HeLa” cell line derived from tissue taken without Lacks’ consent during a medical examination. procedures in 1951.”

In their lawsuit, the Lacks Society argued that the treatment of their ancestor was indicative of a bigger problem that also persists today: “racism in the American medical system.”

The criticism reads partly: “The abuse of Henrietta Lacks is unfortunately representative of a universal struggle experienced by Black people throughout history… Too often, the history of medical experimentation in the United States has been a history of medical racism.”

Although Thermo Fisher did argue that the case must be dismissed as a result of the statute of limitations, the Lacks family’s attorneys countered, “That shouldn’t apply because the company continues to profit from the cells.”

Only one in every of Lacks’ children, Lawrence Lacks Sr., is currently living. His son and her grandson Alfred Lacks Carter Jr. were on the news conference. “There could not have been a more appropriate date for her to receive justice and for her family to find some relief,” her grandson said. “It was a long fight – over 70 years – and Henrietta Lacks got her day.”

Last week, Maryland senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin “introduced a bill to posthumously award Lacks the Congressional Gold Medal.” In an announcement, Van Hollen said: “Henrietta Lacks changed the course of modern medicine… It is long past time we recognize her contributions to saving lives around the world.”