Profit Always Comes in the Way
In the book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, the tension between medical progress and privacy has manifested through various examples of how a patient’s cells were taken, often without consent, for experiment or even commercial purposes. While the debate between progress vs ethical issues remains controversial, the least doctors can do, is to make every patient feel valued.
Henrietta Lacks’ privacy was invaded as her cancer cells were taken without consent during her stay at the Hopkins Hospital for inspections on her cervix. Dr. George Gey, the experimenter who had done research on her cells, never really intended to use the HeLa cells for personal profit. Nonetheless, he gained fame and indirectly led to a global market on HeLa cells–on the grounds on invading Henrietta Lacks’ privacy.
There is no record that George Gey ever visited Henrietta in the hospital, or said anything to her about her cells.
(Skloot 66).
Although possibly not intentional, Henrietta’s privacy was indeed ignored by the Hopkins doctors, Dr. Gey, and other experimenters during the experimental process. No one ever asked for her consent before using her cells, nor was her family informed about such an incident. Cells, depending on one’s point of view, could be counted as one’s private property. Like diaries or secrets, taking one’s cells without asking is unbearable, especially when people who have done so benefited from it.
Although possibly not intentional, Henrietta’s privacy was indeed ignored by the Hopkins doctors, Dr. Gey, and other experimenters during the experimental process. No one ever asked for her consent before using her cells, nor was her family informed about such an incident. Cells, depending on one’s point of view, could be counted as one’s private property. Like diaries or secrets, taking one’s cells without asking is unbearable, especially when people who have done so benefited from it.
The Classic Burn Book
For some reason, how one’s privacy was ignored reminded me of the movie Mean Girls, in which Cady Heron was living a double life and spying on Regina George. When the plastics introduced the burn book to Cady, she described Damian with a phrase of endearment that was supposed to be private between Janis and Damian to the plastics. Although Cady didn’t mean to expose Damian on purpose, she ignored his privacy while trying to get the plastics to like and trust her. Something interesting is that right after meeting up with the plastics, Cady, in turn, ignored their privacy as she told Janis about the burn book in order to find a way to knock Regina down. Cady was doing a *pretty good job* playing her double life, but life could’ve been seriously easier for her.
There are several instances in real life where people, for the sake of popularity, fame, or power, ignore another’s privacy and feelings. After all, at least in my opinion, ignoring another’s privacy for your own benefit could leave unnecessary guilt that would be hard to erase–so why make your life so difficult when it can be straightforward and easy?
Hi Sunny,
Although I do understand and feel the symphathy with the analysis regarding scientists invading Henrietta’s privacy, especially how Rebecca Skloot shares the story of the Lack’s family and their encounters, to show that this is a negative thing. However, I feel like, from another point of view, this situation can also be seen as a positive thing. If the doctors did not invade Henrietta’s privacy, then a lot of technological advancements in science would not have happened, such as vaccinations. So if HeLa didn’t exist, then would it change the outcome of how society is today? Or would something else emerge to “fill” in the hole? And to answer the question at the end, I feel like sometimes living life the easy way will act as a barrier to the growth of an individual, since the real world isn’t always as easy as it seems. Its kinda like “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade”, life can be difficult at some times, but you just have to deal with it and make the best out of it. I really enjoy reading your post and how you interpret your side view of the situation into the post, and I look forward to reading future posts and hearing your thoughts. 🙂
Hey Sunny,
I understand your opinion and the feeling you have regarding the scientists occupy Henrietta’s privacy. I feel like it is unacceptable that the scientists had shared the story of the Lack’s family. We should also think in another way because what if Hela didn’t exist then what would happen in our society? I feel like sometimes when you are chilling in your life you will accidentally act as a barrier even though you don’t want to. I really enjoy your post and how you explain your thought of the book into the post and I hope I can read your post again.
Hi, Sunny
You quoting “There is no record that George Gey ever visited Henrietta in the hospital, or said anything to her about her cells” really elicits sympathy in the readers. It brought readers right into focus on how toxic doctors treat patients in that era… and ultimately leading to a series of consent issues. I really feel your connection of the Mean Girl. A lot of times, “drama queen” would live multiple life, meaning fake her friendship with a lot of people so she can get all the drama and rumors. And often times, she is intruding the privacy of others. When people tell their secrets, they always end with “… please don’t tell anyone”. But when the drama queen hears it?… not even in her vocabulary. This definitely shows how the ignorant of privacy and consent still happen often to this day.