Rebecca Skloot's The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks

In the book The Immortal life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. The author tells the story of a women whose cells were used for scientific experiments. The story begins with the main character, Henrietta Lacks, who is going to John Hopkins Hospital to have a lump on her cervix looked at by doctors. Henrietta had been experiencing pain since the birth of her fourth child. She has several theories as to what is causing this pain, such as complications with childbirth or an STD which she may have gotten from her unfaithful husband. Henrietta had been checked out by local doctors but they attributed the lump to syphilis, which lacks already had. John Hopkins was Lacks’ only option due to Jim Crow laws. The doctor that examined Lacks found many things wrong with her including
This is the reason why Henrietta’s cells were immortal and kept growing. A documentary on HeLa cells and Henrietta’s contribution finally gave credit to the Lacks family. The family is still upset because they can’t even afford healthcare but their mothers cells are used everywhere. As Skloot was writing the book many people tried to prevent the family from even talking to her. Eventually Skloot gains Deborah’s trust. The stress of all that has happened in Deborah’s life causes her to become sick and she eventually has a stroke. Although The HeLa cells have led to many great contributions in the studies of viruses the book leaves the reader wondering how the family of Henrietta could have been treated so poorly considering Henrietta’s huge contribution. Henrietta’s case has also had monumental effects on laws about how patients are treated, because of Henrietta patients must give their consent rather than be tested on without their knowledge. Henrietta has had a huge role in science and for this along with her cells her contributions will live on