The book “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” explores how science has pursued a social benefit at the cost of the social well-being of one family. Henrietta Lacks, a member of an African American family, had her HeLa cells extracted, which significantly advanced medical treatment for cancer patients. Additionally, these cells have generated substantial profits for the company that sells them to other medical institutions and businesses.
The book poses a controversial question: is scientific progress worth the suffering of a family who are unaware of being exploited? It chronicles Henrietta Lacks’ life, both before and after her death, from the perspective of a curious science student/reporter. The narrative provides insight into Henrietta’s lifestyle and the circumstances leading up to her demise.
It is disclosed that the woman has had to go to the doctor multiple times because she contracted different illnesses and infections from her unfaithful husband, Day. After delivering her final child, she starts experiencing severe pain in her lower abdomen and turns to Johns Hopkins University Hospital as a last option for diagnosing her condition and aiding her recovery. The reason behind this choice being a last resort rather than a primary consideration is due to two factors: financial constraints and racial discrimination.
Receiving treatment at a hospital like Johns Hopkins would cost significantly more, and black individuals were generally not treated on par with white individuals at most hospitals. Hence, it is clear why this was a last resort option. Fortunately, she did receive treatment because this was one of the rare hospitals that treated black people equally. Unfortunately, she was not adequately informed about her treatment. Furthermore, once her HeLa cells were discovered, unnecessary tests and “experiments” were conducted on her, unrelated to improving her health, although she was aware of it.
Henrietta believed she was receiving treatment for her condition but was afraid to ask about the specifics for fear of the doctors discontinuing it. Ultimately, she passes away, but her cells were preserved and used for further experimentation and autopsy. These cells ultimately revolutionized scientific research as they became widespread for commercial production and were sold at high prices.
When Henrietta died, her family was notified and eventually moved on. However, unknown to her family, doctors and scientists took her cells without permission, for the purpose of discovering a unique and profitable type of cell. The family, who were very impoverished and lived in cramped quarters, had no knowledge of these actions.
Some family members had a vague understanding that their relative’s cells had been taken without their knowledge or consent. Many of the family members were upset because they did not receive any financial assistance or compensation from the companies that utilized their relative’s cells. While it is agreed that monetary compensation should not be the only thing the family desires, they certainly deserved to be properly informed about what was being taken from their family member and the research experiments being conducted.
As a biochemistry major and future medical doctor, I strongly disagree with the approach of “leaving the patient in the dark” as depicted in this book. The doctors took advantage of the patients’ lack of knowledge about their treatments, specifically targeting black patients who were often exploited during that era. The ethical conduct of this scientific research is highly questionable. Nevertheless, it appears that the doctors and scientists involved in the discovery of HeLa cells did not prioritize ethics during that period.
Despite their claims of ethical behavior in hindsight during an interview with a reporter, knowing that their statements would be recorded in a globally-read book, doubts persist regarding their actual ethical conduct. The doctors and scientists’ motivations were not motivated by financial gain, but rather by the aspiration for acknowledgment stemming from the identification of a highly coveted cell type. They were resolute in not allowing the denial of consent from a lower-class black woman to impede their advancement.
The family was not informed about Henrietta’s cells being sold because the companies involved prioritized monetary gain over compensating families who they believed had no right to know. This essay prompts the question: is the scientific advancement worth the family’s unawareness and exploitation?
By receiving a small portion of the profits generated from the sale of their relative’s cells, the family could have significantly improved their financial situation. Thus, my principles lead me to answer no in response to the question. Regardless of whether the doctors obtained Henrietta’s cells for research without her consent, they should have informed the family about the usage of her cells and offered them compensation. Keeping the family informed would have avoided deceitful actions and made the utilization of her cells more morally sound, as Henrietta was a human being and not just an object.
In this book, it is noted that the pursuit of one social good often involves sacrificing another. This is a frequent phenomenon, particularly in politics and government policies. Occasionally, decisions are made that have positive effects on certain individuals but negatively affect others. In the case discussed here, science utilized HeLa cells to benefit numerous people; however, this advancement was achieved at the expense of the family who unknowingly contributed these cells for the improvement of others’ lives.
After taking this class and reading this book, I have reached the conclusion that our society possesses a fundamental flaw. Ishmael’s unifying question of “Is there something fundamentally wrong with our society?” can indeed be answered in the affirmative. In our society, we frequently prioritize our own needs over those of others, occasionally even placing our wants ahead of their necessities. An evident illustration of this occurs during voting events when we select presidents and policies that align with our desires. If the majority shares similar viewpoints, the elected president and desired policies promptly come into effect.
However, individuals who voted differently now find themselves living under policies that do not benefit them due to factors such as lower financial statuses. Consequently, while some of us enjoy social benefits, others are left at a disadvantage. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks effectively showcases this concept where one social good takes precedence over another within the same society.
With the advancement of science, there has been an increase in policies and regulations to ensure ethical practices in public interactions and doctor-patient relationships. This book follows a curious science student/reporter as they delve into the life of Henrietta Lacks and her family, both prior to and following her passing. Henrietta Lacks belonged to an African American family, and the HeLa cells derived from her have played a significant role in scientific and medical progress, especially in cancer therapy.
As a society, we often prioritize our own needs and desires over those of others. In the pursuit of their own objective to revolutionize medical treatment, doctors obtained these cells. The revelation and commercial application of HeLa cells can be likened to a two-sided mirror, where one side reflects the positive outcomes while the other side remains hidden – the side where no positive outcomes emerged. This book explores the concept of pursuing social good at the cost of another social good. What is troubling is that anyone could have been in this situation without even realizing it.
