Henrietta was never informed that her cells were being taken for research. This raises the ethical issue of informed consent.
The informed consent process involves three key features:
(1) disclosing to potential research subjects information needed to make an informed decision
(2) facilitating the understanding of what has been disclosed
(3) promoting the voluntariness of the decision about whether or not to participate in the research. Informed consent must be legally effective and prospectively obtained.
From Informed Consent- FAQs, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
The Tuskegee Study was another high profile case dealing with issues of informed consent, racial discrimination, and ethical treatment of research participants.
Bioethics by
Now fully revised and updated, Bioethics: An Anthology, 3rd edition, contains a wealth of new material reflecting the latest developments. This definitive text brings together writings on an unparalleled range of key ethical issues, compellingly presented by internationally renowned scholars. The latest edition of this definitive one-volume collection, now updated to reflect the latest developments in the field Includes several new additions, including important historical readings and new contemporary material published since the release of the last edition in 2006 Thematically organized around an unparalleled range of issues, including discussion of the moral status of embryos and fetuses, new genetics, neuroethics, life and death, resource allocation, organ donations, public health, AIDS, human and animal experimentation, genetic screening, and issues facing nurses Subjects are clearly and captivatingly discussed by globally distinguished bioethicists A detailed index allows the reader to find terms and topics not listed in the titles of the essays themselves
