Rights
In 1951, there was a poor black women who had cervical cancer. Her name was Henrietta Lacks. She went to the Johns Hopkins Hospital for her treatment. Then she signed an Operation Permit Form. It said: “I hereby give consent to the staff of Johns Hopkins Hospital to perform any operative procedures and under any anaesthetic either local or general that they may deem necessary in the proper surgical care and treatment of: Henrietta Lacks”
Based on this statement, I believe Telinde and Gey had the right to obtain a sample from her cervix to use in their research. Henrietta Lacks give consent to the staff of Johns Hopkins Hospital to perform any operative procedures. Telinde took Henrietta Lacks two tissues. One from her tumor, and one from the healthy cervical tissue. Then a resident took the samples to Gey’s lab. Gey wanted to find an immortal cell and help Telinde to prove his theory that noninvasive carcinomas was an early stage of invasive carcinoma. If left untreated, eventually became deadly. Telinde also wanted to find the causes and possible cure for cancer. So Telinde and Gey took Henrietta Lacks’ cells because they want to find the best way to treat her. This was the era of Jim Crow-equal but separate and black women still didn’t have full rights. The Johns Hopkins Hospital gave Henrietta Lacks the best treatment. I think they took Henrietta Lacks’ cells for research is like to pay for her medical bills. In a sentence, I believe Telinde and Gey have right to obtain Henrietta Lacks’ cells for their medical research.
On the other hand, I think they should have let Henrietta know about that they took her cells and explain to her they need her cells to do some research for her cervical cancer and it also can help other women. I think if they had asked Henrietta Lacks, she would also agree with them to take her cells. Henrietta Lacks was kind, friendly and always think about other people. When she learned her cancer was malignant. She didn’t tell anyone because she didn’t want her family to worry about her, she thought she can deal with it by herself. In addition, she always cooked foods for the many cousins who stop by and also gave them place to sleep until they find place to move to. Therefore, I think if Telinde and Gey should had asked permission, Henrietta Lacks would also have agreed. Moreover, I don’t think Henrietta Lacks have read through the consent. As Rebecca Skloot describe “walking into Hopkins was like entering a foreign country where she didn’t speak the language” (16). She have no choice when she went to the hospital, she only want to end the treatment quickly. She didn’t care about what the consent said. For me, I also didn’t thoroughly read consent forms before signing them. I trust the doctor, or maybe I am so lazy.
I changed my mind, after I read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks , I think I should read through the consent forms before I signing them. I should ask doctors to explain for me if somewhere I am not clarified. As we have seen, we should not just let doctors do the treatment, we should also know what and how are they treating. This is our rights to ask questions and know about it.
In 1951, there was a poor black women who had cervical cancer. Her name was Henrietta Lacks. She went to the Johns Hopkins Hospital for her treatment. Then she signed an Operation Permit Form. It said: “I hereby give consent to the staff of Johns Hopkins Hospital to perform any operative procedures and under any anaesthetic either local or general that they may deem necessary in the proper surgical care and treatment of: Henrietta Lacks”
Based on this statement, I believe Telinde and Gey had the right to obtain a sample from her cervix to use in their research. Henrietta Lacks give consent to the staff of Johns Hopkins Hospital to perform any operative procedures. Telinde took Henrietta Lacks two tissues. One from her tumor, and one from the healthy cervical tissue. Then a resident took the samples to Gey’s lab. Gey wanted to find an immortal cell and help Telinde to prove his theory that noninvasive carcinomas was an early stage of invasive carcinoma. If left untreated, eventually became deadly. Telinde also wanted to find the causes and possible cure for cancer. So Telinde and Gey took Henrietta Lacks’ cells because they want to find the best way to treat her. This was the era of Jim Crow-equal but separate and black women still didn’t have full rights. The Johns Hopkins Hospital gave Henrietta Lacks the best treatment. I think they took Henrietta Lacks’ cells for research is like to pay for her medical bills. In a sentence, I believe Telinde and Gey have right to obtain Henrietta Lacks’ cells for their medical research.
On the other hand, I think they should have let Henrietta know about that they took her cells and explain to her they need her cells to do some research for her cervical cancer and it also can help other women. I think if they had asked Henrietta Lacks, she would also agree with them to take her cells. Henrietta Lacks was kind, friendly and always think about other people. When she learned her cancer was malignant. She didn’t tell anyone because she didn’t want her family to worry about her, she thought she can deal with it by herself. In addition, she always cooked foods for the many cousins who stop by and also gave them place to sleep until they find place to move to. Therefore, I think if Telinde and Gey should had asked permission, Henrietta Lacks would also have agreed. Moreover, I don’t think Henrietta Lacks have read through the consent. As Rebecca Skloot describe “walking into Hopkins was like entering a foreign country where she didn’t speak the language” (16). She have no choice when she went to the hospital, she only want to end the treatment quickly. She didn’t care about what the consent said. For me, I also didn’t thoroughly read consent forms before signing them. I trust the doctor, or maybe I am so lazy.
I changed my mind, after I read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks , I think I should read through the consent forms before I signing them. I should ask doctors to explain for me if somewhere I am not clarified. As we have seen, we should not just let doctors do the treatment, we should also know what and how are they treating. This is our rights to ask questions and know about it.