Instead of feeling proud and graceful about the many millions of people that have been helped by the advances in medical science that have been achieved, members of her family can only be selfish and think of themselves. Perhaps their own lives have been touched in ways that they just don't realize (I hope) and maybe someday they will be truly thankful for themselves and other people who have been given a new life or a better life. Many people have given more to others with no thought of themselves - just ask a soldier.

A complete and total injustice was done to her family to obtain these cells and now some crazy cancer cells that KILLED her are IN US ALL. Thats right, if you have ever gotten a vaccine you got a little HeLa in you.

The cancer killed her, and anyway, these are not normal cells, they are CANCER CELLS, and if you ask a science dude HOW OR WHY her cells are STILL ALIVE they dont know, but they kept it a secret because at the time whites would have objected to having cancer cells that kille a black woman INJECTED INTO THEIR CHILDERENS BODIES, I am an African American, to me her story is fascinating and tragic like many stories of people who have been ripped off.

Look at it this way, if her family had to be paid every time her cells were used, there would be some record of who got them, the rates for cancer have gone through the roof in the last 40 years, her cells have been found in places where it was impossible for them to have been - and still the scientists do not know why her cells are "Immortal"

Watch the documentary

The Way of All Flesh BY Adam Curtis
if her family had been informed possibly more care would have been taken with these cells that KILLED THEIR MOTHER and for all we know, could be killing people now because we dont know how they work

Everyone's right. She and the family should have been made aware of the
"scientific" advances resulting from her unaware but great contribution

Her family deserves all the medical help they might need, considering how many others, as well as Doctors and Hospitals benefitted medically and financially from the work.

A donor in the dark deserves as much
respect as a conscientious donor.

Perhaps one day the family will receive some help that was the result of their
Mother's unique attributes.

I can undestand their attitude which I suggest be transformed by pride. Not many get the chance to be a part of
crucial advancement, knowingly or not.

Read the book, people. Particularly bditman. It tells the story of the incredible abuse the family experienced, and the ways in which they were mistreated by science. It's not just a story about some cells being taken -- her family was used in research without their knowledge too. Before you assume they're being selfish, find out what the story is.

What's the difference between taking her cell vs. taking body part from dead people without family permission? People are paid for being in research projects. I think the family is over due for compensation. What about the family history of cervical cancer? They know now, so do the right thing. Maybe helping this family will lead to more amazing life saving treatments.

Is this author selfish? Is she too going to profit from this lady's death and her children's story? Just another abuse of black people just like giving syphyllis to all those black men without telling them. So who profits rightly? Let me guess!!!! Everyone except the family. I get it, it's okay for everyone to get what they want just not the family. I am sure that these scientists were interested in cdells until thaey saw a profit one way or the other. Otherwise they would have never bothered. Get real.

Maybe this parasite who just sucked the last rights out of Henrrietta's family shoul d put all of the profits from her book into a foundation for the family to live off. Maybe they should have millions paid to them from the abuse if their mother and the stolen profits off her body parts!!!

Brandy, just wanted to note that the author has created a foundation to help the Lacks family. Here's the site:
http://rebeccaskloot.com/book-special-features/henrietta-lacks-foundation/

Brandy, in the case involving black men and syphillis, I believe the men were already infected. What happened is that treatment was withheld from some of them in order to study the progression of the disease--still a great crime against humanity, in my opinion, but not quite the same thing as infecting unsuspecting people.

It is so rare that a story like this so desperately needed to be told and was long overdue. Ms. Skoot obviously took care in writing this book and I believe it pays off. I remember briefly reading about HeLa and Henrietta Lacks in college, but never gave it much thought until now. I foresee this book being used in many university classrooms in the near future. I think it should be a mandatory read for anyone in the research field. It touches upon so many important issues such as the importance of confidentiality and full disclosure. I’m sure there is more than one researcher who sees these things as mere paperwork; however, this book is a perfect illustration about how ignorance can really ruin a persons’ life.