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The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

In: English and Literature

Submitted By thomson88
Words 882
Pages 4
Name: Thomson Levi’s
Tutor: Dr. Francis Ochola
Course: English
Date: 23/10/2012
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks In 1951, Henrietta Lacks, a poor young woman goes to the clinic for a physician to examine a perceived knot on her womb. The lady has been under pain for one year and explained the matter to the cousins; however, they did nothing until the pain became severe. The local physician had executed tests on syphilis that was negative, and advised her to visit the area main hospital for further medication. Unfortunately, she was diagnosed at Johns Hopkins Hospital with cervical cancer. In chapter 3, there is a presentation of medical conceptualization and treatment of cervical cancer, and description of the treatment of Henrietta at Johns Hospital. Dr. TeLinde at the Johns Hopkins was a leader researcher in this field, and interested in the demonstration of the then debate claiming noninvasive cervical cancer was merely invasive cancer. Cells were taken from her in the course of that exam and used without her consent in order to build up the first immortal cell line.

In telling the story, the author draws from personal interviews and primary sources to offer insightful narrative accounts of the childhood of Henrietta, adulthood, her diagnosis, the illness, and tragic death. Rebecca expounds the HeLa’s birth and life and shows changes on the research concerning the realm of medical research, leading to both medical and scientific breakthroughs; however, also evolving and new policies about the research projects and patients’ rights. As the account of HeLa unfolds, the story of the surviving children of Henrietta as well unfolds, who for 20 years were conscious of the presence of the cells and the industry (multimillion-dollar) that developed around the use and production of HeLa. Central to this story is the rapport between Deborah and Skloot. As

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