A Book That Made Me Think: THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS

As a daily commuter, I see people engaging in various activities.  Many people are disgusting - they pop their zits or clip their fingernails.  (Yes, I’m serious.  Yes, I’m working on a blog post on this very subject.) A lot of people sleep.  Others sit quietly, listening to their iPods.  People like me, we read.  When I see multiple people reading the same book, I decide I need to investigate this book, which is how I came across The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot.

In a nutshell, this is the true story of a Maryland woman who had cancer and a host of STDs from her very giving husband.  The interesting part about this woman, who died only about 60 years ago, is that her cancerous cells are still being studied in academia and in laboratories worldwide.  Except there is a catch.  The doctors who took her cells did not tell her they were taking cells for more research.  They definitely didn’t tell her they were selling, trading, and giving her cells away to other scientists to do more research.  Her very poor family did not receive any compensation.  In fact, it was many years after Henrietta’s death that they even discovered research was being done.  

Yes, the research done has done a lot (no, A LOT) of good for humanity.  Henrietta Lacks’ cells have led to the development of the polio vaccine, cloning, gene mapping, and a plethora of scientific advancements.  It’s pretty amazing.

In the afterword, Skloot made some remarks that made me think, “Today most Americans have their tissue on file somewhere.  When you go to the doctor for a routine blood test or to have a mole removed, when you have an appendectomy, tonsillectomy, or any other kind of ectomy, the stuff you leave behind doesn’t always get thrown out.  Doctors, hospitals, and laboratories keep it.  Often indefinitely.”     SERIOUSLY?  DOES THIS REALLY HAPPEN????   She also said, “Biobanks stores appendixes, ovaries, skin, sphincters, testicles, fat, even foreskin from most circumcisions.  They also house blood samples taken from most infants born in the United States since the late sixties, when states started mandating the screening of all newborns for genetic diseases.”

This is just crazy.  Then, I started thinking about my commute.  At each entrance/exit of a Metro stop, there are nice people there to hand to a free paper, Express.  This is a Washington Post owned paper, but it’s free to the commuters in Washington DC.  (This paper is actually the reason I reduced my subscription at home.)  This paper gives you a very brief run-down of world-wide events, plus huge advertisement section.  Along with the available apartments in the area, one can sign up for many medical tests.  

Just in Friday’s paper alone, I found advertisements for participation in research studies if one happens to have rheumatoid arthritis, gout, heart disease, or depression.

Or if you want to be an egg donor, there is a number to call.  If you want to participate in a live influenza vaccine study or a study on fear and anxiety, there is also a niche for you in the greater DC area.

But what is going to happen to your research?  Are doctors/labs going to continue to test your “donations” long after the study?  

All I know is that I’m going to be asking MANY more questions the next time I give blood and during my next physical.  

I suggest you read this book.  It was very insightful to the development of medicine, especially when it hits so close to home, literally.  You also might want to think of some questions for the doctor next time you pay a visit.