L’héritage d’Henrietta Lacks

Abstract

Many developments in biology and biotechnology have relied on the HeLa cell line, originally derived in 1951 from a Black cancer patient without her knowledge. This origin became generally known at the turn of the century, and the patient’s descendants have sought and obtained some recognition and some control but little compensation. They have now retained two famous attorneys to sue a biotech firm for very extensive damages, with more legal action planned against other companies. This may have important repercussions for the biotech industry, and raises complex issues regarding ownership of biological material and compensation to patients from whom these materials have been obtained.