If you were dying in a hospital and doctor told you that they wanted to take samples of your tissues to run tests would you willingly volunteer? Now a days, we are given the choice if we want to partake in medical research, but back in the 50s, Henrietta Lacks was not given the choice. The decision the doctor made to take Henrietta's cells has change the medical field as they know it forever. This action brought about many changes to the medical field such as the laws pertaining to voluntary participation in medical research, the use of these cells in new medical research where other cells have failed, and bringing to light the morality of not properly informing the people that are going into medical research. Even though involuntary participation in medical research is morally wrong it can bring about great things that can save many people's lives.
Due to what had happened to Henrietta Lacks in the 50s the laws pertaining to participation in medical research has changed. Back when Henrietta was a patient at John Hopkins, the doctors didn't have to ask for permission to take tissue samples from when she was alive. They took her tissue samples of her cancer when she came in for her radiation treatments. Grey then took her cells and started growing them. At first he thought that these cells would turn out like all the other cells he had which had ended up dying in a couple of days. These cells didn't. They ended up reproducing and becoming one of the most used cells in medical research and ended up going to Biobanks shortly after the use of these cells was discovered. After Henrietta died, Grey wanted to take another tissue sample but want unable to unless the husband of Henrietta consented. So, Grey told the husband that her cells could one day end up helping their children. In the end Day agreed. Today doctors need to ask the patient if they are able to take samples when they are alive.