Henrietta Lacks Congressional Gold Medal Act

Bill 118 s 2485, also known as the Henrietta Lacks Congressional Gold Medal Act, is a piece of legislation introduced in the United States Congress. The bill aims to award a Congressional Gold Medal posthumously to Henrietta Lacks, an African American woman whose cells were taken without her consent in 1951 and have been used for numerous medical advancements, including the development of the polio vaccine and research on cancer, HIV/AIDS, and other diseases.

Henrietta Lacks' cells, known as HeLa cells, have been instrumental in scientific research for over six decades. Despite the significant contributions her cells have made to medical science, Lacks and her family were not informed about the use of her cells and did not receive any compensation for their use.

The Congressional Gold Medal is one of the highest civilian honors in the United States and is awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to American society. By awarding Henrietta Lacks with this honor, the bill seeks to recognize her important role in advancing medical research and to bring attention to the ethical issues surrounding the use of her cells without her consent. The bill has garnered bipartisan support in Congress and has been praised for its efforts to honor Henrietta Lacks and her contributions to science. If passed, the Henrietta Lacks Congressional Gold Medal Act would serve as a tribute to Lacks' legacy and raise awareness about the importance of informed consent in medical research.