When Henrietta Lacks entered Johns Hopkins Hospital on the 29th of January 1951, she had no idea what a huge impact on the world she would have someday (Skloot, 1). The story of HeLa, the cells from Henrietta, is one of the most controversial topics in science. What defines ethics and legality is constantly evolving and has been for years, therefore it is hard to compare Henrietta’s case to current rules. While the ethics and integrity of the Doctors working on Henrietta’s case can be questioned
I empathize a great deal for Henrietta Lacks and her family. Her story is a perfect example of extreme violation of privacy and injustice. Being a social worker and reading this book made me so upset. One of the most obvious issues in this book is Henrietta did not give permission for doctors to take her cells. Her story is a classic example of the sacrifice the scientific community struggles with in pursuit of the better good, for all. I am not against research and the better good for all. After
Racism has had many consequences on society. People of color were considered inferior to the whites, and therefore, were treated with worse conditions than those of the whites. This included proper health care, and patients’ right to consent. Before slavery and segregation were abolished, many unethical medical experiments were conducted on people of color without their consent. In the 19th and 20th centuries, racial discrimination was more common than ever. Until the abolition of slavery, many African
behavior. There is no doubt that HeLa have helped to improve the lives of millions, but the way in which the original cells were obtained is continuously unsettling. What resounded with me in the novel The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks were the entwined accounts of Henrietta Lacks' miserable life and her only living daughter Deborah's quest for learning about the mother she never knew. Also there was something else. The passage on the title page of Skloot's book reads, "Doctors took her cells without
Jonathan Cink BGEN 194US Sep, 24 2015 INTRO BLAH BLAH The Use of Lacks’ Cells Was Ethical Henrietta Lacks’ cells were used for the betterment of humanity and society, not solely for the use of some cash grab ploy. The original and overall intentions of the doctors involved were for the advancement of medical research, resulting in the accidental discovery of self-reproducing cells. Rebecca Skloot discusses how the cells were used beneficially, “Her cells were part of research into the genes that
medical field was Henrietta Lacks. Her cells, HeLa cells, were used to save countless lives from the 20th century till present day. HeLa cells are responsible for revolutionizing the medical field as the cells helped develop the polio vaccine, cloning and various cancer treatments. The cells modeled either as human normal cells or cancer cells. Rebecca Skloot’s work of history, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, illustrates how the medical and journalistic world exploited Henrietta and her family
Racism in the United States began in the 1400’s and continues till this day. Henrietta Lacks was a young African American women from Virginia who dealt with racial discrimination her whole life. She feels pain on the lower area of her body and soon finds out that she officially has cervical cancer. Every hospital stated that they could not help her since she was black. Once she found a hospital that is semi-supportive to blacks, the doctors remove her cells without her consent. Eventually the doctors
one's lives, to a point in which they have a psychological ownership of our body. When someone, without permission, uses your body to promote the general welfare, it can have a significant negative impact on your family. Such is the case with Henrietta Lacks, a victim of cancer whose cells have been used in medical research the world over for their immortality (in that they continually reproduce without degeneration). These “HeLa” cells have improved the lives of countless individuals as they have