Introduction:In 1951, the first immortal cell line was created by a doctor at Johns Hopkins Hospital using tissue samples taken from a young black woman named Henrietta Lacks. Her cells would become known as HeLa cells, and for a long time the owner of these cells remained a mystery; even his family knew nothing about it. In the years to come, his cells would be used in many important medical and scientific advances. During that time, HeLa cells would prove instrumental in the development of a polio vaccine, genetic mapping, and in vitro fertilization. They would even be sent into space to see how cells would react in zero gravity. Since the beginning of this research modality, people's perception of what constitutes moral behavior towards patients and in particular the collection of cells from patients has changed. Over time, other doctors would take cells from patients without their consent and use them for research. As a result, people started thinking about how ethical this was, and especially whether the potential for scientific or medical advances outweighs the injustices imposed by the lack of patient consent. It could be argued that, in the realm of ethical behavior and medical advances, it may be necessary and acceptable to take cells or tissue samples without the patient's consent. And even though these cells and their research may have no effect on the patient, what advantages and disadvantages might arise from obtaining or not obtaining patient consent? Discussion: Since ancient times, it has been recognized that doctors had power over their patients, and that there must be ethical implications arising from this responsibility. This was first represented in the Hippocratic Oath, created by an Ancient Greek...... middle of paper....... 2014."History of Medicine." History of medicine. History learning site and Web. 23 Feb. 2014."INFORMED CONSENT." INFORMED CONSENT. Np, nd Web. 23 February 2014. “Nazi Medical Experiments: Context and Overview.” Background and overview of Nazi medical experiments. Jewish Virtual Library, nd Web. February 23, 2014."The Nuremberg Code." US Department of Health and Human Services. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, n.d. Web. February 21, 2014.SPECIAL PROGRAM FOR RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND TRAINING IN HUMAN REPRODUCTION GUIDELINES FOR OBTAINING INFORMED CONSENT FOR THE PURCHASE AND USE OF TISSUES, CELLS AND HUMAN FLUIDS IN RESEARCH. Np: World Health Organization, nd PDF.Tyson, Peter. "The Hippocratic Oath today." PBS. PBS, March 27, 2001. Web. February 21, 2014. Skloot, Rebecca. The immortal life of Henrietta Lacks. New York: Corona, 2010. Print.