another repulsive thing ive discovered in the history of vaccines..

[entreat]

The research that they did in the Nazi death camps is still used today. It has saved lives but you know what it still bothers me.
Informed consent is one of the cornerstones of modern medicine. IMO informed consent should also cover what will happen to any tissue that is collected/discarded.

No body can deny that what the Nazi's did was horrific and wrong in every sense of the word. But again - over 60 years ago. The standard has quite obviously changed! In addition to that: the HeLa samples weren't forced, they were taken in the process of treatment. Just consent was not given for their purpose. I guess one could argue that is a kind of force-by-ignorance. Definitely very different to the Nazis.

I still don't know why it's an issue to recycle something that would otherwise be thrown in the bin?

So if there was an option on the form to agree to use your tissues for research, should it then be broken down into catagories? "I agree for my tissues to be used in research to help kittens, but not puppies?" Or cancer, but not genetic diseases. or austism but not muscular dystrophy? Where does the line get drawn?

Isn't it simpler to just not chuck it in the bin, but to just use it?

In addition to that - how do you think they 'destroy' your samples. I'll give you the tip: it's not usually by incineration, but more likely just going to the dump. I'd rather my cast offs be used for something than rot in a hole.