KQ: If we all benefit from the unethical choices of a single individual, should we all be held morally responsible?
In this particular case, I don’t feel as if we should all be held morally responsible for the unethical choices one made because we do not have a say on the matters in which it influences. The scientists who wrongly used her cells and developed the technology that we use today have used the cells in so many different ways and for different advancements that it’s impossible to prevent the use of HeLa cells, even if we wanted to avoid so due to the unethical beginnings. To ask society to stop use of all technology that can be attributed to HeLa cells would not only be impossible, but detrimental and meaningless. The scope of the outreach of her cells simply have become too far in order to reign back. Also, although we are benefitting from the use of her cells, it would be unjust to punish society as a whole for receiving the benefits when many of us were not alive or if alive, were not aware of the unethical choices made that led to such discoveries. Why should we all be held responsible for the actions of one when many of us would not make the same choices, especially in the social climate of today in which morality and ethics are constantly questioned (even though the time period and social expectations do not excuse their actions). If such ideology and beliefs were actually upheld, then until when will the later generations be held accountable and responsible for a punishment satisfactory enough?