The death of Henrietta Lacks in 1951 led to ethical debates and needed medical diplomacy over who has the right to a person’s cells. The nonconsensual use of Henrietta Lacks’ cells, HeLa cells, created debates in biomedical research ethics. These debates led to diplomacy in the form of the 1996 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to protect patient rights, provide avenues for informed consent, and increased communication with donors and research participants.