BP #6 - Mini Essay on HeLa and Informed Consent

        In olden days, researchers did research in patients without their consents. Some people may say it was a crime by using patients' belongings without their knowledge. Although cheating patients was not a good thing, but in fact, they should be proud of providing important resources to medical industry. Anyway, researchers deserved to do research in patients even though without telling them the truth.

Doing researches supposed to have enough resources testing different kinds of possibilities. For instance, Henrietta had no money to pay off her medical bills, so she went to a hospital which offered free treatments to every black people. Therefore, I think it is fair for doctors taking her cells to do research. It just as give something back in return.

           Surely, I did not hear about anything about this kind of history before I read this book. While I read the story about this issue, I did not think it is amazing. I thought that patients should give this small contribution to medical industry. Moreover, I do not think patients will admit doctors to do research in their bodies if there was a paper to ask them to do so. The only thing was for sure, which it would delay the process of finding new vaccine to cure people.

           In contrast, now people have totally different view than in the past. Today, societies have legal rules that govern their behaviors. They have to follow the rules to do research. They will get big trouble if they against the law.