Acquiring informed consent from patients, whether it’s for research or medical purposes, is a requirement by law. But back then, it wasn’t as important as it is today. Informed consent is when a person grants permission after they learn of all possible consequences and results. Not only is it unlawful to do something to a person without their knowledge, it is also unethical. People have a moral right to their body. In “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot, the readers learn about how things were back then, and about the many cases debating about the property of a person’s body. In my personal research, I found an article that further elaborates on the issues and rules of informed consent, and what applies and doesn’t apply.
