KristinLynn1982
Rookie
- Apr 5, 2021
- 1
- 3
- 1
The book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, tells the story of woman (Henrietta Lacks) whom doctor’s took her cells from without her permission after performing a biopsy of a tumor during treatment for cervical cancer. Her cells were then taken and cultured who created a cell line that is known as HeLa. This cell line is still used today for medical research. There was no consent obtained to from Henrietta and her family didn’t know about the cell line until 1975.
This book tells the whole story of Henrietta. It starts with her life and what was happening in her life, why she decided to finally go see a doctor all the way through the end of the battle that her family had. Henrietta was a black woman in a time when black and whites were still segregated. As many would believe, black people were not given the same care that white people did. However, this story brings the necessary attention to what Henrietta’s contributions to the medical profession to light. Until reading this book, I had no idea what HeLa was. Ultimately, it was sacrifice that a black woman made unknowingly) to help many woman down the road who may develop cervical cancer.
Skoot portrays Lacks and her family as people did back then. She told the stories as they were remembered or based on information that she could obtain from different sources. While, there is always going to be a he says/she says side to stories, it was told from the family’s perspective. Many people probably found fault with the way they family was portrayed, but in someone’ eyes, it was truth.
Lengauer stated that “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." There has never been a truer statement especially when it comes to Healthcare. People make anonymous sacrifices all the time, but the deserve the credit for those sacrifices and people need to know the story behind the person. People want to put names and faces to the information being given to them.
“Oh jeez, she’s a real person (Skloot, 2010, p.91). This statement is a statement that I will never forget working in the Healthcare field that will help me be a more ethical leader. It often never occurs to you that you are working with real people with real feeling and real families. No matter how many patients you have (anywhere profession), you have to remember that everyone has their own story, and you need to help make it a good one. No matter the race, religion, sexual orientation, age – all people are entitled to receive good healthcare. They shouldn’t feel that they are outsiders and out of their league when they come into a medical provider. It needs to be better, better explanations of what is going on, what is going to happen. If we do this, people may not feel so scared to come in for medical care and medical care follow ups. We need to better in healthcare. We need to follow rules. We need to obtain consent. We need to make sure the patients are comfortable and confident in the healthcare choices they made.
“No note is made in the history at that time, or at the six week’s return visit that there is any abnormality of the cervix” Skloot, 2010, p.17). The number one thing to be done to prevent unethical practices is to be sure that all exams and testing are completed and completed thoroughly. There is nothing like a mal practice suite to yell unethical. Inform and obtain consent EVERY TIME you are doing anything on the patient. If they are having lab work done, let them know what tests. Radiology test, let them know what we are looking for. The patient is the most important person in their care. Be sure to work with them and follow the basic guidelines of medicine.
