The new Oprah movie about Henrietta Lacks reopens a big scientific debate.

[elleng]

Your cells may be used in research without you knowing. That may be good for science — but how do you feel?

On HBO.

http://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/4/21/15275514/oprah-henrietta-lacks-hbo-consent-biospecimens

[Ilsa]

1. I'm recording it later this week.

Looking forward to it.

[sharp_stick]

2. It's changed at least somewhat

I did a lot of work as an undergrad using fresh cord blood and in every case I had to get permission from the new mom.

Tissues now are often taken after death but only if you've okd organ and tissue donation.

[PoliticAverse]

3. Her relatives apparently asked for $10 Million from Oprah for the movie...

http://www.ajc.com/entertainment/television/oprah-discusses-role-immortal-life-henrietta-lacks/BkFMRuIfhFpTbzICjSBgdM/

[frazzled]

4. I just watched it

Excellent: a nuanced narrative, not simplistic, beautifully acted, thoughtful. Also very sad.
Thank goodness we got a free preview weekend of HBO at this moment! Other than this film, however, there's bupkus on all the other HBO channels. I'm still not compelled to pay for it, just for the occasional good show I want to watch.

[elleng]

5. Several 'good' ones on HBO tonight.

Slumdog millionaire, The Man who knew Infinity, among others, LUCKILY!

Only caught the end of HeLa, so will watch for it to return on the loop (I hope.)

[peggysue2]

6. Watched it

I made a point of watching the HBO movie because I'd read the book and really enjoyed it. Thought they did a good job, particularly from the human-interest POV. The children were haunted by their mother's early death and lack of information.

The book, of course, offers much more but the questions raised in the text about research, medical ethics and race are all present in the drama. I cringed the way I did reading the book when Henrietta's treatment for cervical cancer was mentioned--packing vials of radium into the cervical tissue. OMG. But now, with early detection and targeted radiation, woman do survive.

In a very real sense, Henrietta Lacks did become immortal.

Should a patient be informed or sign consent for cell usage? I'd say yes, without a doubt. Otherwise. we'd all be donating our bodies to science, no? Not that donation is a bad idea. It's not. But it's all about that pesky question of personal choice.

[Solly Mack]

7. My pre-cancer cells went to Fort Meade without my direct permission for study.

I say direct because as an army dependent being treated in an army hospital, my cells were free for study in the event they wanted them. They did. I was notified after the fact.

If it saves a life, then it's all good.

I knew it was a possibility...it's in the very teeny tiny small print...but the odds of it happening were just as small.

Alas...my cells hit jackpot.

However, my situation and HL's situation were not the same. So I draw no comparison. The doctors and medical researchers should have informed Mrs Lacks. They should have offered payment for commercial research successes using her cells.

Yes, her cells helped to save countless lives and maybe that should be reward enough, but think of the times. Think of how African-Americans were treated, and the attitudes toward the value of POC and their lives. Millions of dollars were made off her cells. No one should be able to take even the smallest pieces of your body for commercial research without paying for the right to do so.

People can say it's not ethical to sell body parts, even tissue (and I agree) - but it's most certainly not ethical to take those parts and pieces without consent and then turn your research into profit without compensating the donor. Making money off of Mrs Lacks for decades without once acknowledging her contribution....that's just not right.

Thank you, Henrietta Lacks, for the lives you saved.

[applegrove]

8. My mom and my grandfather both went to medical school and

directed bodies in anatomy class. I always said I would donate my body to science and will. The choice to do so is part of my health card. So any hospital pulling up my government health care on the computer will know to start harvesting as soon as I die. Lucky that we have universal health care in canada. So easily organized at very little cost. Or send my full body to the local university.