Family of Henrietta Lacks Files Lawsuit over Use of Stolen Cells, Lambasts Racist Medical System
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- Опубліковано 7 жов 2021
- The family of Henrietta Lacks has filed a lawsuit against biotech company Thermo Fisher Scientific for making billions in profit from the “HeLa” cell line. Henrietta Lacks was an African American patient at Johns Hopkins University Hospital. Doctors kept her tissue samples without her consent for experimental studies while treating her for cervical cancer in 1951. Benjamin Crump, one of the lawyers for the case, filed 70 years after her death, calls Henrietta Lacks a “cornerstone of modern medicine,” as her cells have since played a part in cancer research, the polio vaccine and even COVID-19 vaccines. Ron Lacks, author and grandson of Henrietta Lacks, laments the fact that the family was never notified when his grandmother died, and that part of what motivates the lawsuit is to ensure “no other family should ever go through this.”
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"Anyone who has ever struggled with poverty knows how extremely expensive it is to be poor"
--James Baldwin
"Its not illegal to be poor in the US, but it might as well be." Kurt Vonnegut
Gosh, I hope they get even a fraction of what they deserve from this. Just think of how many people she has saved!!!
And, let's be clear, the family deserves billions. And the pharmaceutical companies have made TRILLIONS using Mrs. Lacks' cells. As her granddaughter said, DISGRACEFUL.
Imagine where her family would be right now if Henrietta Lacks had been compensated. Generational wealth is important.
The family deserves nothing, it was a lump of cancer cells which would have been buried with her if it wasn’t for the doctors knowledge. She got recognition, her initials were used to identify the cells. The cells weren’t used for the specific reason to make money, they were used to help people, that should be legacy enough. Now they want a cut into the profits. That’s disgusting. And talking about being treated poorly etc etc. Everyone is trying to use this for their agenda! People donate blood and organs everyday to save lives, nobody asking for money. And you are selling the narrative that she was mistreated, abused, and taken advantage from. Bullshit!!
"Oh Henrietta, we can live on forever." - Yeasayer. This case has been egregious for over 70 years. I do believe ANYONE who has survived deadly illness should wake up & daily say "Thanks HeLa"
That's a fine argument, however TRILLIONS IS a better word. Thank you for your UNSUSPECTING contribution, H. L
This is so much bullshit asking for money , this same family would gladly receive blood or organ transplants from someone else who gave them up without expecting money. Everyone is up for a money grab.
She said billions like they ain’t made trillions!
"If the misery of the poor be caused not by the laws of nature but by our institutions, great is our sin ! "
-- Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin was a open RACIST!
@@nahwhitfield2016 Charles Darwin was racist by todays standards, he was a progressive and an ally for the days in which he lived
@@jonni2317 Of course those who shared his racist views didn’t consider him a racist
Henrietta Lacks needs to be known and acknowledged by everyone.
I just met one of her grandchildren.This story really is sad.
This needs to be on every station everywhere for a minimum of 1 year….
This is why we must fight for true history to be documented, taught, and learned from.
Name and Shame the specific people who orchestrated this heinous biological theft.
I can’t wait for the documentary and movies
Exactly 💯
When you monetize everything, nothing is sacred. Lies, hypocrisy and the pursuit of profit.
Sounds a lot like the medical industry.
Can you believe its still legal today!? As long as they de-identify patient leftover lab samples they can use them for their own experiments without patient knowledge or consent. What a cover up process... Henrietta Lacks is the gift that just keeps on giving, not just with her cells. I am so thankful for her and her family's suit of this egregious practice. Their success will pave the way for more action. These companies continue to profit. They argue that the blood is worth it for everyone. That what the patient doesn't know won't hurt them. The common law in research needs to be revised to truly help patients everywhere. How long do we all have to burn!?
Wasn't her cancer one of the most aggresive ever seen, which is why the samples were taken in the first place? I'm surprised and saddened they took them without obtaining her permission. Most people would have given them willingly to help science, if they were asked. I hope there is a way for her to know how many people this has helped, and how far medical science has advanced because of those cells.
Exactly I thought the reason they took her cells was to look into what she had and what they could do for her by informing themselves more about what this cancer was, but just happened to notice that her cells were "immortal" and acted differently then any other human cells they've encountered. So doctors didn't just 'collect' her cells for science there were collecting the cells to figure out what she had but just happened to notice they acted differently. Yes they should have informed the family their findings but the video is suggesting that all doctors did was want her cells but not want to help her...i don't think that's true at all.
And yet people insist that racism isn’t still alive and well! This family deserves a comparable compensation so that Henrietta’s lineage reaps the rewards so justly deserved.
I absolutely agree. Billions. Minimally. Think of how much money the pharmaceutical companies have made over the years, how many lives Mrs. Lacks has helped save!! Disgraceful what the companies did to her and, eventually, her family.
And you think John Hopkins would NOT have taken cells from a white woman? Don’t lie to yourself. They’ve probably already done it time & again. The only surprise here is that the truth came out.
I disagree. Here is the story of greedy lawyers who think they can suck $$ from a company. They could not care less about Henrietta or her kids. Get a clue.
@@CharlesEngbers are you referring to mr crump?
@@CharlesEngbers get a clue. This is a story about racism. The proceeds for the cure went to WHITE patients even though they accepted donations from black and white Americans alike. Check your history.
The family deserves billions of dollars for this shit. Using their cells and making absolute bank off of her without consent.
"Quad Trillions of dollar's '!!!:;
This poor lady was treated less than an animal. Shame on all those who used her pain an suffering to make money. I hope her descendants get many millions for the wrongs committed against them!!
How was she treated less than an animal, for analizing her cancer cells? This is done for every cancer patient today! All this hate and victimisation. They gave recognition, they put her initials to the cells! Without the doctor the cells would have been buried with her and that’s the end of the story. He shared the knowledge with everyone and a lot of peoples benefited frim this! AS IT SHOULD BE. THESE PEOPLE ARE DOING THE SAME AS FARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY, trying to benefit from their ancestor, and making this again about racism. This all funfare is stupid!!
@@blertagjolena3817Soon they will be proud to acknowledge this discovery and forget they were upset that her cells were taken without her consent. That part will not be acknowledged to proclaim their fame .. They are such a nuisance to society. They wonder why people don't want anything to do with them. They have done nothing but destroy America. They are nothing like their ancestors they are weak and lack any intelligence in today society. Generation after generation their IQ lowers right down the toilet. They never gain intelligence they lose it.
This one among the myriad reasons why AAs remain suspicious of and Fear the US Medical and Health Care system. Sue the pants off John Hopkins University Hospital.
They not gonna let them get any real justice. This country wicked !
I should have known Crump was lurking some got damn where in this lawsuit
Ikr!!
So What! The family reached out to Mr. Crump! Go to law school!
@marydavis7978, my thoughts exactly & why not he’s very credible and makes it happen
Crump made it happen! He is a qualified professional ATTORNEY WHO IS HANDELING THE BUSINESS RIGHT! SO WHAT DO YOU MEAN LURKING! THAT'S WHAT TRUMP DOES NO COMPARISON!
And.........???
I truly hope the family bankrupts anyone that had a hand on anything involving that woman it's long overdue I look forward to hearing more and bind a book
This is great. Finally. Separately, hope this becomes legal precedent for suing big tech for their use of our IP
i am so sorry for this family and what these greedy universities and corporations did to their member. may they succeed in their endeavour against these fools.
Did you know Tuskegee institute also profited off of it as well? Did you know that how the Tuskegee institute was created? Just think because of that discovery they might not exist today. Wow .. look who else benefited...
@@annmhmoore0771 everyone DOT directly involved profitted but the very first timei heard about anything like this was a Texas family whoso had their cells patented by a doctor and had to get permission even for a blood transfulsion.
When my son had his 'wisdom teeth' removed, I asked to be able to keep them for posterity, and they said, 'No' and literally blocked me from going to my son. I Should have pressed the issue because even THEN, I Knew tbat they would very plausibly use my son's teeth for their own purposes, more specifically, Stem Cells, instead of giving them to me for his baby/childhood box.
She sound like a cure rather than cancer cells
🌍 Henrietta Lacks University!! 💯🌍
I hope there was a way in this settlement ... The Family was able Get a Percentage from beginning all the way to now and beyond this Company also ANY company that benefited from thier Family Member ... that percentage should continue on and on and on and on and on and on as long as it helped their progress(Forever for the Family) ... (Which the World Knows these Immortal Cells Did)
I am not a fan of Thermofisher but there is some misrepresentation of what happened here. There's a previous interview from Ms. Skloot with NPR where she states that the radioactive rods were the standard treatment for cancer at the time.
And of course there was racism, she was in a colored ward after all, and of course Thermofisher should not be able to make billions of dollars from her cell. But I don't think that the solution to this is as simple as giving money to her descendants and calling it a day. Results of this medical research should be made available to the world at cost. Health is not a trade good, it's a human right.
Its about damn time!!!
I can not deal. God please help us 🙏🏽
It was a tumor
About time her family got justice
They treated her like a Lab Rat.
No. The took her cells without permission. They replicated those cells & did research. Her cells were the lab rats not her. Focus.
@@vallee7966 The family talked about Johns Hopkins also giving her "treatment" like the insertion of radiation rods but without the intention of helping her--they wanted to see how her LIVING BODY would react...
edit: typo
@@vallee7966 they treated her barbarically! She really suffered.
They treat all of us simple folk like lab rats and laugh all the way to the bank. Well thendoor is locking down now one day at antime. Thebfirst will be last and the last shall be first. Itsn.about time America becomes what itt says in our bill of rights not the bill of whites for the rich whites. To thimk Imna whitenman who believes in justice for all who ever
By the way, Johns Hopkins is still experimenting on BLACK folks today...
BIG UP TO DEMOCRACY NOW. AMAZING JOURNALISM!!
Pay them
FINALLY.
When you appoint people in these positions of authority they are called the root and those under them are their branches, what are we expecting the younger officers to exemplify, the root of course because he's getting away with crimes so the junior is expecting the same ,I hope these actions will not continue in that state or any other state
The Red Violin but in vitro...
I have come to love Ben Crump over the last ten years or so. Off topic, sorry lol. But I adore him. I love how he always speaks like he's in front of a judge.
He speaks like a third grader.
@@jamesuberman5856 you must know some very intelligent third graders. To be able to speak so eloquently over the problem with the pharmaceuticals companies inability to give credit to Henrietta and her family.
All the money in the world won't correct the MORAL FAILURE of CORPORATIONS but it sure could help a family who paid the ultimate price and endured the ridicule and insults of people who have no moral compass. I remember the term 'HELA ' cells but no history was ever connected with Helen Lacks. Disgraceful, but maybe some compensation and recognition we hope.
Think about the other part of this: the people of color and the poor who unknowingly receive inferior medicine and medical care to gauge what can be substituted or subtracted to maintain profit when dealing with clients with little or no health insurance.
The experiments on so called black peoples are very unfortunate and shameful for financial gain. There is something very special about this woman stolen cells.
Evil! Evil Personified 😈
Well this is fucked but still was the standard regardless of your race/social status so this case is not really unique outside of the utility.
This case is very unique her cells are still living . Mrs. Lacks obviously has a very unique DNA. Stolen and Patented at The Patent and Trademark Office. By a segregated John Hopkins shameful.
Agree. Didn’t matter what race or income level she was. They would have taken those cells regardless.
@@vallee7966 it did matter they know there is specialness associated with melanated genes. That is why melanated people stay out of their hospitals.
@@vallee7966 it mattered that is all UA-cam will allow me to say no warning to melanated people.
@@lisablack8804 That's bullshit and even if it was true they could just grow them so wtf lol
The best Book about Henrietta LACHS IS BY HARRIET A. WASHINGTON!
Where is there Any Proof that Henrietta Did Not give Consent to Donate her Tissue? Why now? These Attorneys Homed in this Family for their own Greedy Purposes. This Family is looking for a Pay Day which they are Not Entitled to.
informed consent for medical procedures did not exist at that time. She barely knew her prognosis from what I have heard reported. At that time they practiced benevolent deception in the medical field and did not inform patients of a fatal prognosis.
The entire planet"!!!!! Is truth"!!! The creator of earth"
October 2021 The Black Super Cells from Miss.Lacks has saved humanity . The Black Human Cells survives forever .
God continue to help this family for generations to come. Let them get settlements from other companies too. So that it totals into trillion of dollars. In Jesus' name Amen 🙏.
RUN THEM THE MONEYYYYYYYYYYYY AND GIVE THEM THE RECOGNITION
You're a fool. This nothing but greed on the part of her degenerate descendents.
Besides, that snake in the grass Crump will take FAR more than his fair share. In fact, the lawyers will be the only people to see a dime.
Bravo! Bravo!
Wait I’m confused are they saying the hospital let her die when they could have saved her?
No, they took her cells without permission and have been using them to make medical breakthroughs(and a butt-load of money a long the way) for decades Not only does she deserve to be known but her family deserves compensation because she didnt consent
No she had cervical cancer.
They stole her cells which has been patented at the Patent and Trademark Office.
I don't think Johns Hopkins had a cure for Henrietta's cervical cancer, but they did things to her, such as the insertion of those radiation rods, which were not to her benefit simply to experiment with her body. So, while she was under the impression that she was getting professional medical help for her cancer, the doctors were actually using her as their lab rat.
Yes they did. They could have helped but I’m guessing she was worth more deceased and no one had to be told anything if she was alive.
Ben Crumpf smells the money.
Ok Boomer.
No different than white attorneys!
I support the Lax family go grt them justice is just round the bend never give up. A good fight sayth the lord
Amen God is always on time
If that was true the family would have been paid 70 years ago.
@@LJRoss-zv8hw Exactly!
Billions they make trillions over that lady👁👁👁👁👁👁👀
I'm more interested in the story of her cells.
Ugh.. humanity has so many stains on it. Can't believe this happened.
May the lawyers rot in hell.
Why isn't the hospital where this occurred also being sued.
Limitations?
They tried that and lost. You see, she signed a blanket "operative consent" form at the hospital upon admittance. In 1951 there was no such thing as informed consent. Part of her treatment was to take a biopsy of the cancer cells. That is standard practice for cervical cancer to this day. Her cells were remarkable in that once removed, they continued to replicate in the lab. Unfortunately her particular cancer had no real effective treatment in 1951; the hospital tried radium rods, but her died 8 months later. Nothing was "stolen" from her.
@@davidjordan5077 While I do mostly agree with you, I do think it would have been morally correct for the researchers to inform the family of this discovery at the time especially since they named the cells HeLa. It doesn't seem ethical that her medical discovery should be known to researchers far and wide and not the family that shares her DNA.
This is Amerikkka
Why don't they write a book so the story is properly told and so it gets into the public realm. Or a film, too?
There's already a book about this story. I read it in school during the 10th grade.
There is a movie. Oprah Winfrey tells the story. It's a must see. The Immortal life of Henrietta Lacks.
You're late to the party!
You must be trolling.
The family wants that money. I bet most of them never even went to see her grave. Bunch of self untitled money hungry leaches. I hope they don't get a dime. They need to get a job.
Yes, they should have been told, but I really don't understand why they want so much money? I'd be so honored and happy that my disease has been used for good and future treatments. I've let a university hospital use my swabs when being treated for something. I did not expect a pay out. I guess in America, it's all about how much money.
NO H.L. WAS NEVER MADE OR FAMILY WHAT WAS TAKEN PLACE MRS. LACKES WAS USED AS A LAB RAT EXPERIMENT ON (USED)!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You missed the point. It was never about money. However, if those companies are making trillions, why shouldn't her family be compensated? Her cells live on and on and the companies continue to profit, again why shouldn't the family? It's totally unfair! They should be compensated for generations to come. Just like the Ford family, the Rothschild's, etc. This is how generational wealth is continued. Pay them and pay them well. It's only fair! Just imagine the trillions of dollars these companies make. Also imagine the millions of dollars the CEO's make per year. Why do they feel as though the family isn't entitled to part of this money? I know why. Most of us know why. Because she was a Black Woman. They would have never done this to a prominent white family. Never! This is a story we know about. Just imagine all of the people who never got to share their stories. So, people think that the critical race theory shouldn't be taught. It should be taught. The truth has to be told. Most, don't want the truth told, because they're afraid people who don't know the truth will know the truth and they will be exposed for the rachet devils that they are. I'm telling my Grandchildren, so they'll know. The truth will set you free. They try to whitewash everything good thing, as if it was theirs. I hope they burn their pockets. .
@@knightress5760 I agree entirely that if it were a prominent, rich family (white, jewish etc) it would have gone quite differently. There's a lot of experimenting on vulnerable groups .. Just look at the prisons.
Well your cells weren’t harvested at the time for being practically a MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGH. without Henrietta’s cells so many people would have died if not for her so many medicine that we have today would not exist. They profited off of this family, went back and asked for more all while making millions and leaving the family completely in the dark and not compensating them for their mother and grandmothers contribution to medical history. When your cells help completely change the course of science and history maybe then you’ll be able to ask for compensation; how can they be happy when originally they created a fake name instead of thanking Henrietta they didn’t even WANT to give her recognition. Check your history. She didn’t have a disease. Her cells were some of the first to be able to duplicate and survive OUTSIDE OF HER BODY. FOR THE LOVE OF HENRIETTA LEARN YOUR HISTORY.
Ah there is the problem you sell yourself too cheaply, I'd want at least 10%
Now we wonder why big $ and big no gooders cant be trusted.there is no money in the after life just justice. This is a huge case hope itbworksnout for HS and her family. Go get em. Money bows to money we see that every day. Mans shame is his greed
It's ironic that all those racist people who are alive today because of this black woman's cells and DNA. The Black Experience will never be a just phenomime. The compensation should be more than whatever they will be awarded. Everyone on this earth should know about this.
👻🧬🦇💩😈💉🖤
I had a friend who was a scientist in this program. He lived with the guilt for decades. He died with Alzheimer's last year.
Gives us a bit more empathy for today’s anti-vaxxers…
And also shows that all things are possible…if the government says so.
But conveniently FORGET you had to have measles, polio and DPT vaccines before you were allowed in school? Yea…
If Henrietta Lacks knew today that her cells would go on to save millions, she would be proud of herself. Demanding compensation for something none of her family did is nothing short of greedy and spiteful of her name.
I agree with this sentiment. Also as a scientist this might be dangerous. If availability of these cells are somehow curtailed further progress in research will be impeded. Greed just complicates things. I think recognition of her contribution should be enough.
Are you serious????
@@Solitaire_Guy White woman family would have been paid! The people who got rich should have compensated the family without a lawsuit! Greedy devils!
@@Ozie1964 I’m afraid they are. They can’t even realize how the family was left without a grandmother, to live in poverty all while companies made millions this family should be THANKED for giving us the ability to survive polio and other medical breakthroughs. The fact that they are speaking for Henrietta is disgusting. Her family deserves every last penny that these selfish companies made. This family deserves to live the wealthiest life in my eyes. They should be millionaires instead of having to fight these lawsuits for compensation.
@@Solitaire_Guy greed? Greed is how its still legal for doctors to take cells from patients without their knowledge for experiments. That’s greed. Greed is knowing a women was responsible for the polio vaccine and other medicine and medical breakthrough but they failed to inform the family and chose to keep said money made from funds and vaccine sales. That’s greed. This family deserves to win the lawsuit and by higher power I hope they win.
Americans
400 yr prophecy. God is moving more than you know.
Cant just be grateful for the good done? These people are low lifes. Crump...ugh..
Who are you saying is ungrateful ? If the family they deserve it. It wasn't voluntary.
@@pluviophileh1849 an otherwise unremarked death after much research work indirectly led to benefits for other patients. quite a memorial.
@@skulptor Stop the hate this woman Mrs. Lacks cell were stolen in a segregated hospital and she was abused . This is better than the Na zi stories.
At the very least, her family should be compensated for her contribution to medical research that has saved millions & earned billions.
I’m sure anyone in their position would want the same! So they shouldn’t benefit at all as other are?.. they were tested also I’m sure! The entire family was tested. We all are “lab rats “ to these people.