During Skloot and Deborah’s meeting with Christoph Lengauer, Lengauer emphasizes the importance of Henrietta Lacks’s contribution to science and how she is remembered in the medical community. Langauer 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.
Publish the article on your own social media account (e.g., LinkedIn, Facebook, etc.), or post it on a health care message board of your choice.
Include a citation of your article in your assignment.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
The book “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot depicts the story of a woman named Henrietta Lacks whose cells were taken without her knowledge and used for research, leading to significant contributions to medical science. This article aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the book in illustrating the importance of Henrietta Lacks’s life, her contributions to science, and their impact on her family. Additionally, the article will discuss the portrayal of Lacks and her family and the importance of learning about her story for medical professionals to become more ethical leaders.
Evaluation of the book:
The book “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” effectively illustrates the significance of Henrietta Lacks’s life and her contributions to science, which have impacted medical research till this day. The story is portrayed from the perspectives of both Lacks’s family and the scientific community. By weaving together personal narratives and scientific information, the book provides a comprehensive understanding of the impact of Lacks’s cells on medical research. However, the book does have some problematic elements, particularly in how it portrays Lacks’s family. At times, the book crosses ethical boundaries by disclosing personal information about the family without their consent or knowledge.
Lengauer’s quote:
Christoph Lengauer emphasizes the importance of knowing who Henrietta Lacks is, and the impact her cells have on modern medicine. It is crucial to acknowledge the contributions individuals like Lacks have made to science while also understanding the ethical implications of scientific research. Knowing Lacks’s story empowers medical professionals to make informed decisions while treating patients and conducting research.
Becoming a more ethical leader:
Learning about the story of Henrietta Lacks has provided me as a medical professional with valuable insights into the ethical implications of medical research. It has reminded me of the importance of informed consent and confidentiality while conducting research on human subjects.
Preventative measures:
Medical professionals can take several steps to prevent unethical practices in medical research. First, they must ensure that all research is conducted with the informed consent of the participants, and confidentiality is maintained. Secondly, medical professionals can establish ethics committees to evaluate proposed research and ensure that all research is conducted in a manner consistent with ethical standards. Finally, medical professionals must be aware of the power dynamics involved in research and ensure that participants are protected from potential harm.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” provides a comprehensive understanding of the impact of Henrietta Lacks’s cells on medical research. However, it has some problematic elements, particularly in how the family is portrayed. Christoph Lengauer’s quote emphasizes the importance of knowing about Henrietta Lacks’s contribution to science and empowers medical professionals to make informed decisions while conducting research. Finally, medical professionals can take several steps to prevent unethical practices in medical research, including informed consent, confidentiality, establishing ethics committees, and ensuring participants are protected from harm.
