The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Rebecca Skloot, Random House Inc, 2010
It is probably impossible to find a human biologist whose research has not depended on HeLa cells, whether through primary experimental work or literature sources. While some scientists previously knew about the ethically questionable origin of these eminently useful cells, this book provides a personal side to the story of those cells. This best-selling book has been so popular, not because of the scientific value of HeLa cells, but because of the compelling story of Henrietta Lacks, her unfortunate death from cancer, and the current fate of her descendants who had no idea that a part of their ancestor has been distributed across the globe and perpetuated. The story of Lacks’ children and grandchildren, who have struggled through poverty and poor health, is contrasted against the success of the HeLa cell industry, which has made millions of dollars for biotech companies the world over.
While it is a compelling story for non-scientists, it is especially important for scientists to read this story and think more about the implications and repercussions of their research. It is also one in a long list of stories about women (especially impoverished and minority women) who have been exploited and deceived by the doctors they trusted (examples here, here, and here – see the Sterilization Laws exhibit).
This book is available at the UW Libraries, though there is likely to be a long waiting list.