A Troubled Past? Reassessing Ethics in the History of Tissue Culture.

The author argues that claims of tissue cultures having a troubled past because medical researchers did not seek prior informed consent which contravene the self-determination of patients and the public, are unfair and misleading. He notes that informed consent was not required during the early and mid twentieth century. The author states that balanced histories of tissue culture can show that ethical concepts like informed consent arise from specific historic engagements.