The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot (2010)

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The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot



                Henrietta Lacks was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 1951. While on the operating table receiving treatment, the surgeon on duty took two samples from Henrietta without her knowledge. Those samples were then sent to another doctor where her cells were grown in a lab. The cells were labeled HeLa, from the first two letters of her first and last name. Her cells would continue to be grown and distributed to labs around the world. HeLa cells behaved unlike any other cells and would be flown into space, tested numerous times and would help in research against some of the most virulent and well known diseases. HeLa cells changed science. But Henrietta Lacks wouldn’t know about any of that. She would die in October 4, 1951. Her family wouldn’t learn about her “immortal” cells until two decades later.
                The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is a comprehensive look at Henrietta’s life, the affect the HeLa cells had on science, and the family that is still struggling to make ends meet even though millions of dollars have been made off of Henrietta’s cells. This brings into question the moral responsibilities doctors have in taking tissues from their patients and the ethics involved as well. It covers racism and the treatment of Black people by the medical community in the mid 1900’s and how Henrietta’s treatment is a direct result of that. Skloot also takes a lot of time gaining the trust of the family and discusses that in this book. It’s an emotional read that really examines the scientific community and how one family has been detrimentally affected by it.
               This book has the ability to tear someone apart. There were quite a few moments when I found myself extremely upset while reading this book. I was infuriated by not just Henrietta’s treatment but the treatment of her family and other patients like her. There is an issue of trust that has to be examined in situations like this. You put your trust in doctors and the idea of them taking tissues without your knowledge for “research” and having them ultimately profit from them is extremely unsettling. I thought Skloot did a really great job with balancing the science with the human element. It is well researched and thorough. I feel like it’s an ode to Henrietta Lacks. I give this 4 out of 5 stars. 

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