The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Part I

        Part I of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks illuminates many of the ethical and social problems within the healthcare system that Lacks and many like her faced. The fear of sterilization, especially for African-American women, was a concern of going to the hospital for treatment. The fears of forced sterilization were one of the reasons why Sadie, Henrietta’s cousin, “figured Henrietta kept [her sickness] a secret because she was afraid a doctor would take her womb and make her stop having children” (Skloot 35).

        Henrietta, as many other African-American women, unknowingly lost her reproductive ability. One paper on hysterectomy stated, 

The psychic effect of hysterectomy, especially on the young, is considerable, and it should not be done without a thorough understanding on the part of the patent [who is] entitled to a simple explanation of the facts [including] loss of the reproductive function....It is well to present the facts to such an individual and give her ample time to digest them....It is far better for her to make her own adjustment before the operation than to awaken from the anesthetic and find it a fait accompli. (Skloot 91) 

However, this is exactly what Henrietta was subsequenly made aware of—a loss of her reproductive functions. Although the hospital assumed that Henrietta was aware of the loss of her reproductive function due to treatment, Henrietta clearly remembered not being informed of the risks.

        Many of unethical procedures, like involuntary sterilization, likely arose from untruthful ideas about African-American inferiority—like the fictitious beliefs that African-American’s are more susceptible to diseases. When Henrietta journeyed to the hospital to get examined “[h]er local doctor took one look insider her, saw the lump, and figured it was a sore from syphilis” (Skloot 36). The immediate assumption of a syphilitic infection, although possibly sincere, was likely based on the invalid assumption of African-American’s predisposition to syphilis. These false suppositions consequently led to substandard care for African-American patients.

        Henrietta and other women, particularly African-American, not only faced discrimination but were also used for research purposes—typically without their consent. TeLinde, one of the doctors at Johns Hopkins, "began collecting samples from any woman who happened to walk into Hopkins with cervical cancer. Including Henrietta" (Skloot 63). Ironically, "After Henrietta checked into the hospital, a nurse drew blood and labeled the vial COLORED, then stored it the case Henrietta needed transfusions later" (Skloot 120). Once Henrietta's cells were determined to grow they never seemed to be labeled or intended to be used for cancer in African-American's only. All of a sudden color did not seem to matter—that is only if it benefited the, white, general public as well.

        George Gey, the man who ran the lab that grew Henrietta’s cells, according to records never “visited Henrietta in the hospital, or said anything to her about her cells” (Skloot 121). However, Gey told his college, Laure Aurelian, that “he leaned over Henrietta's bed and said, 'Your cells will make you immortal.' He told Henrietta her cells would help save the lives of countless people, and she smiled. She told him she was glad her pain would come to some good for someone" (Skloot 122). Gey’s failure to visit Henrietta further emphasizes the disregard that he had for the countless patients he, wrongfully, obtained samples from. Unfortunately, Gey and others like him had no regard for health of the patients but only cared about the cells that they unwillingly contributed.

Works Cited

Skloot, Rebecca. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Large Print Press, 2011.