The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot produces many different themes. Many of which continue to play a big role in today’s society. Throughout the novel‚ the author reveals the story of a woman who shook the scientific world with just her cells. Even today‚ her cells’ influence is still felt in medical research. However useful these cells are‚ obtaining them was very controversial. After reading the book‚ the main themes that stuck out in
Premium Henrietta Lacks Rebecca Skloot Cell culture
Introduction “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” was written by Rebecca Skloot‚ to tell the story of Mrs. Lacks and her HeLa cells. Henrietta Lacks died of cervical cancer in 1951. A sample of her cancer cells was removed for research prior to her death. Her cells became the first to survive and multiply indefinitely in a lab. These cells have made many advances in medicine. However‚ the samples were taken without her permission or without her knowledge. The book covers five key ideas which
Premium Henrietta Lacks Rebecca Skloot Cell culture
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks‚ by Rebecca Skloot‚ exposes the story of Henrietta Lacks; a black woman not only under privileged but also under medical research without her nor her family’s consent. Skloot’s approach to the Lacks family in researching and writing the novel is unethical and can be analyzed as well as supported through her leading intent for the novel‚ the originality of the language used‚ and her personal claim to ‘white privilege.’ In April 2012‚ the University of San Diego
Premium Death Physician Medicine
Ethics are what we use to determine what is right from wrong. In science‚ it’s a system of codes that describes what can and cannot be done by a scientist. When we talk about Henrietta Lacks cells‚ it’s a case of a sacrifice for the greater good. Although the cells were taken from her without her consent when she was receiving cancer treatments‚ those cells allowed for scientists to develop the first polio vaccines and test chemotherapy drugs. All of these things had a dramatic effect‚ as they were
Premium Morality Ethics Social philosophy
Bloom‚ Stacie. "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks." Rev. of Book. Journal of Clinical Investigation 7th ser. 120 (2010): 2252. ProQuest. Web. 26 Mar. 2012. Dr. Stacie Bloom was surprised at how much she enjoyed reading The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. She assumed the book would be “beneath her”. After all‚ what could a book about HeLa cells written for the layperson teach an accomplished Director of Science (at the NY Academy of Sciences) with an extensive background
Premium Rebecca Skloot Henrietta Lacks Cell culture
In the book “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” it starts off with the story of a women name Henrietta Lacks‚ she was an African American that was born in Roanoke‚ Virginia on August 1‚ 1920. She grew up in a time of segregation where laws were enforced to keep blacks and whites segregated in certain places‚ for example‚ seating areas‚ colleges‚ and hospitals. African Americans were treated below all races due to their skin color. At the age of thirty‚ Mrs. Lacks had developed cervix cancer and
Premium Black people African American Race
This novel goes through the story of a woman named Henrietta Lacks. The book is based of her story that started with a cancer that was discovered in her when she thought she was possibly pregnant because of a feeling of a knot on her cervix. Although she wasn’t pregnant they did find out she had a cervical cancer. Little did she know that some of her cancer tissue was removed and sent to George Gey’s lab in Hopkins. The scientist there‚ one named Gey ‚ have been trying to get human cells to divide
Premium Henrietta Lacks Rebecca Skloot Child abuse
Photograph” 1. How does the author create an interest in learning more about the story of Henrietta Lacks? 2. How well does the author provide the reader with a sense of what this book is about? B. “Deborah’s Voice” 1. What is your impression of Deborah‚ given this brief excerpt? How does the author shape that impression? C. Chapter 1: “The Exam” (1951) 1. What does this chapter suggest to you about Henrietta Lacks’ ability to understand and make informed decisions about her treatment at the clinic?
Premium Henrietta Lacks Rebecca Skloot
In The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks‚ Rebecca Skloot embodies the essence of my two most prioritized values; hard work and commitment. In all its essence‚ this essay will communicate how Skloot’s personal journey towards what she deemed morally and ethically just‚ fortifies the idea that these two values in the resolution of the book‚ are what constitutes to her success in procuring her end goal‚ to let the world know who Henrietta Lacks and her family are and their true ordeal. Hence‚ showing
Premium
Skloot states on page 130 of her book‚ The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks‚ that a doctor named Southam was withholding health information from patients. The reasoning behind Southam holding back the patient’s health information is as followed. As Skloot says‚ “ The deception was for his benefit-- he was withholding information because patients might have refused to participate in his study if they’d known what he was injecting.” (Skloot 130) I believe with the information and/or the evidence given
Premium