What are your thoughts regarding the family's reaction to see Henrietta's cells and the help they received from the author? What did you think about the possible lawsuit?
I think you know the drill! Please be reflective in your post. I am looking forward to reading your thoughts.
Chapters 30-34 flowed somewhat languidly. It was interesting to read how Deborah and Zakariyya reacted when they saw their mother's cells under the microscope, provided by Lengauer. I'm contented that Henrietta's children could finally see their mother's cells in person, rather than picturesque paintings, and photographs. Their visit to the cells proved to be much more than a mere visit, but a closer connection to their mother, which I felt was what Deborah and Zakariyya needed; a gap to fill an aching void of loss and inquiry.
ReplyDeleteThe help the Lacks' received from Skloot is unimaginably charitable. Throughout the notions of sporadic behavior from Deborah, and insurmountable car mileage usage, Skloot still managed to aid the family with respectful information the Lacks should have known, with an attitude of patience and genuine care.
The topic of the possible lawsuit is controversial. I am genuinely unsure if the lawsuit would work in favour of the Lacks' or the science community, however I do believe '' One man's trash is another man's treasure,'' and Henrietta's cells in her stance were irrelevant and useless, however to the science community a prized possession. I am not sure of this inevitable lawsuit, however I am (sort of) leaning towards the stance of scientists.
I feel that the monetary contribution Skloot must have given the family could have allowed them to press a lawsuit if they wanted. Seeing their personalities however, I think just being able to see the lab and the first piece of their mother since her death was enough closure for them, without monetary assets.
DeleteI feel that the Lacks' should have a lawsuit. They should receive monetary compensation. Their mother has helped create many vaccines, and her family can't afford health insurance; thats terrible! They deserve at least free health insurance, if anything at all.
Deletei agree with jada it doesnt matter wheater or not the cells were useless or worth something. the fact is the doctors took them and didnt even inform the family about what they are doing. it only proves the point of the lacks family why should the doctors profit from there pain and loss its not fair in my opion they have a lawsuit they deserve some of that money i mean the hela cell were a billion dollar buisness its only fair.
DeleteI appreciated the sensitivity and detail of explanation the doctor provided for Zakariyya and Deborah. He showed empathy toward their situation, but was empathetic in a way that did not include normal humanistic pity. He felt that they need to see their mother's cells, and this provided a sense of closure for the family that was sorely needed.
ReplyDeleteAs far as a lawsuit goes, I feel that it is up to the family if they want to pursue it or not. It really isn't up to anyone else to say, they haven't been through the same trauma the family has. Other people who have pressed charges about the same type of issue in the past have lost their cases before. This is a huge amount of money the family simply doesn't have.
I agree with you, Caitlin. Its hard to say whether or not we think the lawsuit should take place. It really is completly up to the family. Its their risk, their money, their feelings, their past, and their family member.
DeleteI agree with you as well. I feel as though Dr. Lenagauer did help the Lacks children gain a bit of closure and helped bring them closer to their mother. And I also completely agree on regarding the lawsuit, it is up to the family to decide if they want to pursue it or not. The family has been through so much emotionally and the case would just add another burden in my opinion. Unless there was a sure fire way that they would win the case, I believe they shouldn't bother themselves in pursuing it. They have been through enough over the years.
DeleteI admire Lengauer's empathy as well. Their visit proved to be an eye opener for Deborah and Zakariyya which thus altered their mindset of doctors dramatically; not all doctors are malicious and hungry for information.
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ReplyDeleteThese past few chapters were interesting. I thought it was extremely thoughtful of Dr. Lenagauer to show the family Henrietta's cells. I think Deborah's reaction to seeing her mother's cells was priceless. She seemed like a child in a candy store, so fascinated with her mother's cells. I think that Zakariyya was initially silent because he was just over whelmed with everything and still a little angry at the fact that Johns Hopskins had his mother's cells in the first place. But I do believe that he was satisfied with being able to finally see his mother's cells after such a long time.
ReplyDeleteI feel the help the Lacks family received from Skloot was very generous. Skloot proved to be the one person that didn't want to just use the Lacks family for information they may know. Skloot was charitable to the Lacks family in so many ways. She provided the family with any and all information she learned about Henrietta and just helped them get closer to her. The fact that she would use money from her book to start a scholarship fund for decescendants of Henrietta was astounding. It would help to make sure that the future generations of the Lacks family would have better opportunities.
Pertaining to the possible lawsuit, I feel as though it would be something that would be hard on the family emotionally to pursue. But it would be completely their decision, and even though I see good reason for them to want to pursue with the suit, it still would depend on the circumstances and if they wanted to go about spending money to pursue the case. The family has already gone through so much and the last thing they need is more drama and stress with a law suit in their hands.
I found the search for her mother's medical records and Elsie's medical records astounding. Especially the description of the picture of Elsie in the mental institution. She had to have been abused and it's awful to know that they treated African Americans like that. But, I loved it when Deborah and Zakariyya were able to obbserve their mother's cells and when Deborah was able to actually see the cells dividing. I believe Dr. Lengauer was very understanding of their situation and was 100% on their side, because he believed that Hopkins treated the Lacks family wrong.
ReplyDeleteThe lawsuit would have been exceptionally difficult for the family to pursue, and would have just added to Deborah's anxiety. But, they did have the proper evidence and such to win the lawsuit, since they are immediate family. ---- Rebecca was the perfect person for the job of reporting the findings, because she was able to explain to Deborah what certain things meant such as when the Hospital for the Negro Insane diagnosed Elsie with "Idiocy". These five chapters were very heart-felt and even showed the frustration and eventual unity of the family and Rebecca.
I found it heartwarming how Deborah and Zakkariyah looked at their moms cells. They seemed really intrigued by them, which as their children they should be. Deborah is such a character. It takes a strong person to go through what she went through, and not expect money . I believe that should sue someone. I have NO idea who, but someone. I believe they deserve monetary compensation. When Skloot and Deborah went to Crownsville, I was astonished that they found records of Elsie. I felt sympathy for Elsie, it seems like she lived in a terrible place.
ReplyDeleteLengauer seems like he genuinely wants to help the Lacks'. I thought when they went to the lab, it would be a disaster and sad. But it wasnt at all, yes they missed their mother; but Deborah was also glad her mom was helping people. It was really sentimental when Deborah spoke to her moms cells.
i also found it really nice how skloot focused on more emotional aspects in these few chapters. I agree that they were in fact, very curious about their mothers cells, but they were bombarded so often, with so much information, good and bad, by so many people and this genuinely made the very scared and often, upset. Skloot had seen this and she took steps to make sure that the family got the information in a very organized manner, because you could evidently tell that they were scared and confused by what they had heard. At one point Deborah, and even Zakariyya, believed that their mother was being cloned all over the world in the sense that her whole body was being cloned instead of cells.
DeleteI liked how these chapters drifted back into the more emotional, personal aspect of the book. During these chapters, Skloot had created an atmosphere of calm, peacefulness between the Lacks family. In the beginning Deborah had been very reluctant towards the idea of speaking with Skloot for fear that she was like the army of people before her that caused so much anxiety and animosity towards the subject because of the upsetting information they received. When Skloot had given Deborah the picture of her mother’s stained cells, she open up to Skloot on the conditions that she tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth; they didn’t seek scandal or slander of the doctors in any ways due to the fact that her mothers cells had helped so many people. He cell even helped Zakariyya; allowing him to see her cells for some reason allowed him to let go of some of his deep seated animosity towards those doctors and to think that it only took 60 years.
ReplyDeleteI find chapters 30-34 really amazing but also emotional.The family was upset about finding out about henrietta cells but reading on into the chapters they prepared there selfs for it. the part that i liked was when Deborah "we all black and white and everything else this isnt a race thing" just because Rebecca was talking to Deborah doesnt mean she was trying to use her just for information about Henrietta she really wanted to help them find closure.
ReplyDeleteI liked that Deborah and Zakariyya got to see HeLa cells i feel that was what Zakariyya was looking for just to find peace in it. while there at the hosiptal they learned so much about the cells.the sad part was about Elise and what all she died from and to have spent 5 years in a hosiptal and not be able to survive was hard to believe but in the negro hosiptal they treatment and procedures werent the best.
i found it heartbreaking to find out what happen to henreritta daughter its really sad the way the treated her then again during this tim period it was considered the norm to treat african americans this way. but i thought it was cool that deborah and zakariyya got to see their mother cells in person it kinda gave them that connection they been missing. it healed a lot of old wombs and kinda help them to grow past it.
ReplyDeleteas for he law suit i think the family is intitled to it after, all the stuff that has happened to them and they way they were treated like its a no brainer. its not fair that the docoters made millions off of their mother cells and they cant even afford the medicine that there mother help create that is just wrong. i mean im sorry isnt going to fix all the pain they been through it isnt going to bring back thier mother, wife, sister or cousin its only fair that they get money to at least give them a better life or something.