from Congressman John Sarbanes:

[qwlauren35]

2. For the life of me

I cannot understand this. Henrietta Lacks was very sick and died. That's all she did. All she, the person, did.

Her CELLS, that were taken during a biopsy, had such amazing properties that they were cultivated, and used all over the world for development of drugs and treatments.

Money was made from her cells.

Her family was not contacted and told what was happening to her cells.

They were not asked for permission, and they were not given royalties.

It is possible, if the family was superstitious, that they would have said no. That would have been a tremendous loss to the world.

I think that they are entitled to some of the profits, should get royalties whenever the cells are sold, and I think they have the right to sue.

But giving a WOMAN a POSTHUMOUS AWARD when she did NOTHING, just because her CELLS had medical value - it just makes zero sense to me.