The Second Legacy of Henrietta Lacks

The Second Legacy of Henrietta Lacks
Viewpoint
Jerry Menikoff
JAMA, 17 February 2025
Abstract
Henrietta Lacks has already provided the world with one extraordinary legacy: her cells were used to create the first cell line, which has produced uncountable medical breakthroughs since 1951. But history also puts her at the center of another important issue: determining the extent to which it is ethical to conduct secondary research on a nonidentified biospecimen without that person’s consent. Recent developments create an opportunity for the research community to take an important step forward in clarifying that issue.