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Book Review of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
gdcleary avatar reviewed on + 21 more book reviews


What an intriguing book! When Henrietta Lasks died in 1951, her death had little to do with history or did it? Before Henrietta died of cervical cancer, doctors took her cells without her knowledge or consent. Those cells changed the world of medicine like nothing before.

The author has spent uncountable hours researching and interviewing family members, doctors, and researchers. Although companies have made billions off of Henriettas cells her family still lives in poverty. I appreciated the weaving of the personal story with that of the medical side. If you go to the doctor and are asked to sign HIPPA papers thank HeLa and how over the years consent rules and regulations are changed.

I found it interesting how the rules have changed since the 1950s and how cells from a poor black lady from the south have lived for over half a century.