What's happened
The Lacks family has settled a lawsuit with Novartis over the use of Henrietta Lacks' cells, which were taken without consent in 1951. The settlement, finalized in Maryland court, ends ongoing litigation related to profits made from the HeLa cell line, with terms undisclosed. This marks the second such settlement for the family.
What's behind the headline?
The settlement highlights ongoing issues of medical ethics and racial injustice in biomedical research. The Lacks family's legal actions expose how Black patients' tissues have historically been exploited without consent or compensation. The case underscores the need for clearer consent protocols and equitable benefit-sharing in scientific research. While the settlement resolves some disputes, it also emphasizes the systemic inequalities that persist in healthcare and biotech industries. The fact that this is the second settlement indicates a broader reckoning with the legacy of medical racism and corporate profiteering. Moving forward, this case could influence policy reforms around patient rights and data ownership, especially for marginalized communities.
What the papers say
The New York Times reports that the Lacks family settled with Novartis, ending a lawsuit over profits derived from Henrietta Lacks' cells, which were taken without her consent in 1951. The Independent notes that the details remain confidential, but the settlement signifies a step toward addressing historical injustices. AP News emphasizes that this is the second such settlement, with ongoing litigation against other pharmaceutical companies. All sources agree that the case sheds light on the exploitation of Black patients in medical research and the need for systemic change, with some highlighting the broader implications for ethics and policy reform.
How we got here
Henrietta Lacks, a Black woman from Virginia, died of cervical cancer in 1951. Doctors at Johns Hopkins took a tissue sample without her knowledge, which led to the creation of the first immortal human cell line, HeLa. These cells fueled major medical advances but did not benefit her family financially. Over the years, multiple companies patented and profited from HeLa cells, prompting legal action from her descendants.
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Rebecca L. Skloot is an American science writer who specializes in science and medicine. Her first book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, was one of the best-selling new books of 2010, staying on The New York Times Bestseller list for over 6 years an
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Thermo Fisher Scientific is an American provisioner of scientific instrumentation, reagents and consumables, and software and services to healthcare, life science, and other laboratories in academia, government, and industry.
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Novartis International AG is a Swiss multinational pharmaceutical company based in Basel, Switzerland. It is majority owned by American shareholders. It is one of the largest pharmaceutical companies by both market capitalization and sales.
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