During Skloot and Deborah’s meeting with Christoph Lengauer, he emphasizes the importance of Henrietta Lacks’s contribution to science and how she is remembered in the medical community. He states, “Whenever we read books about science, it’s always HeLa this and HeLa that. Some people know those are the initials of a person, but they don’t know who that person is. That’s important history.”
Write a 525- to 700-word article that addresses the following:
- Evaluate whether the book effectively illustrates the significance of Henrietta Lacks’s life, her contributions to science, and their impact on her family. Answer the following questions in your evaluation:
- Are there problematic elements as to how Skloot portrays Lacks and her family?
- Do you agree with Lengauer’s quote that it is important to know about Henrietta Lacks? Why or why not?
- Explain how learning about Henrietta Lacks’s story helped you become a more ethical leader.
- Provide 2 to 3 examples of what medical professionals can do to prevent unethical practices.
Use 3 examples from the book to support your response and cite the novel.
Include at least one citation in your assignment.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction: The book “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot is a thought-provoking piece that brings to light the contributions of an African-American woman to science as well as the ethical implications that arose from the use of her cells without her knowledge or consent. This article seeks to evaluate whether the book effectively portrays the significance of Henrietta Lacks’s life, her contributions to science, and their impact on her family.
Evaluation:
The book does an excellent job of illustrating the importance of Henrietta Lacks’s life and her contributions to science. Skloot meticulously narrates Henrietta’s journey, from her diagnosis with cervical cancer to the harvesting of her cells, and ultimately, the impact of her cells in revolutionizing medical research. Through her narration, Skloot captivates the reader and highlights the significant scientific discoveries that have been made possible through HeLa cells.
There are problematic elements in Skloot’s portrayal of Lacks and her family, primarily the systematic deprivation of adequate healthcare, leading to Henrietta’s exploitation. However, Skloot counters these problematic elements by depicting how Henrietta’s family was able to come to terms with her legacy and the importance of her contribution to science. Furthermore, Skloot highlights the racial and social disparities in healthcare access, which is an ethical concern that demands further attention.
I agree with Lengauer’s comment that it is essential to know about Henrietta Lacks’s contribution to science and the medical community. This history is vital, not only because of the groundbreaking discoveries made possible through HeLa cells but also because it raises ethical questions about medical research and the need for informed consent. Henrietta’s story also highlights the importance of recognizing and addressing disparities in healthcare access.
Learning about Henrietta Lacks’s story helped me become a more ethical leader by reinforcing the importance of striving for equity in healthcare and advocating for informed consent in medical research. It is imperative to ensure that medical research is conducted ethically, with respect for patient autonomy and dignity.
Medical professionals can prevent unethical practices by:
1. Obtaining informed consent: Medical professionals should aim to obtain informed consent from patients before conducting research or using their tissues for research. This will ensure that patients have a say in how their tissue is used and have full knowledge of the possible implications of their contribution.
2. Ensuring equitable healthcare access: Medical professionals should strive to provide equitable healthcare access to all patients irrespective of race, class, or other social determinants of health.
3. Ethical considerations when conducting research: Medical professionals must consider the ethical implications of their research and ensure that they are conducting research within the ethical boundaries and principles of integrity, respect, and transparency.
Conclusion:
The book “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” effectively portrays the significance of her life and contribution to science while highlighting ethical concerns in medical research. By learning about Henrietta Lacks’s story, medical professionals can become more ethically conscious and work towards equity in healthcare access and ethical medical research practices.
