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What Are The Ethical Issues In The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks

890 Words4 Pages

The novel The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is based on a poor black woman named Henrietta Lacks who had cervical cancer in 1951. Although such a wide range of cancers all across the United States were present during her time, she, in fact, her cells, were selected and collected without consent or knowledge to develop a so called “immortal cell.” This “immortal cell” has been sold in the billions, in which the Lacks family has received absolutely nothing in return for. They were unknown and unheard of. However, the research and understanding of her cells in order to develop vaccines, immunity, cloning, etc. is the base of some parts of modern biology and medical research today. But, this of course came with major ethical issues which was exceptionally well written and explained. Alongside the …show more content…

Cite literature or research that is in conflict with the author's position Summarize and cite it here.
"The Immortal Consenting of Henrietta Lacks." It Is NOT Junk. Web. 18 Aug. 2015.

On the citing listed above, Rebecca Skloot herself discusses her book with the devil’s advocate.

5. How did your reading and research on this idea change your understanding of this topic?

It helped me develop thought provoking details about the history of biology, and other problems within the world that may have been “resolved” using unethical resources.
4. Do ethical issues, in such an extent to Henrietta Lack’s situation, still occur today? 1. Why is this question important to you?
Curiosity and also to find out whether or not this “corruption” is still present in the medical field, and if so, to a lessened or greater extent?

2. What are the implications of the question? To develop a comparing point of view to Henrietta Lacks.

3. Search for literature or research that will help you answer this question. Summarize and cite it here. Explain

Lo, Bernard, and Lindsay Parham. "Ethical Issues in Stem Cell Research." Endocrine Reviews. The Endocrine Society. Web. 18 Aug.

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