One significant event in Black history related to medical patents is the case of Henrietta Lacks. Henrietta Lacks was an African American woman whose cells were taken without her consent during a medical procedure in 1951. These cells, known as HeLa cells, were the first human cells to be grown in a laboratory setting and became crucial for medical research and the development of treatments for various diseases.

However, Henrietta Lacks and her family were never informed about the use of her cells, and they did not receive any compensation for their contribution to medical research. The case brought attention to the ethical issues surrounding consent, informed medical treatment, and ownership of biological materials.

Although Henrietta Lacks did not personally patent her cells, the story of her involuntary contribution to medical science highlighted the importance of informed consent and fair compensation in medical research. Her legacy continues to be remembered and honored in both the scientific community and the broader conversation about bioethics and medical patents.