Description
Discuss medical ethics as illustrated in the book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot, based on the true story. Henrietta Lacks was a poor Black tobacco farmer whose cells – taken without her knowledge in 1951 – became one of the most important tools in medicine. They were vital for developing the polio vaccine, cloning, in vitro fertilization and more. Henrietta’s cells have been bought and sold by the billions, yet she remains virtually unknown and her family has not shared in this wealth. Discuss this fascinating real-life example of medical ethics.