Question for Ch 24-28

Question to consider for Chapters 24-28

 

Chapter Twenty-Four: “Least They Can Do”

-How did Rogers discover Henrietta’s real name? Describe Rogers’s interaction with the Lacks family.

-What facts about George Gey’s life support the assertion that he never personally profited from the development of HeLa?

-Explain how the sale of HeLa evolved into a business. Describe the extent to which the profits from that business are likely a direct result of the sale of HeLa cells. In what other ways do scientists, corporations, and individuals profit as a result of HeLa?

-Why did Deborah begin researching her mother’s cells? What effect did her research have on her?

Chapter Twenty-Five: “Who Told You You Could Sell My Spleen?”

-Describe the lawsuit that set a legal precedent for patenting biological “products” such as cell lines.

-Why did Ted Slavin start Essential Biologicals? Why did scientists find the Moore lawsuit deeply troubling?

-Summarize the pros and cons of giving patients legal ownership of their cells.

-What was the Supreme Court of California’s decision regarding the Moore lawsuit? Summarize the reasoning behind the decision. Do you agree with the court’s ruling? Explain your answer.

Chapter Twenty-Six: Breach of Privacy

-In spite of her deliberate decision to not read her mother’s medical records, Deborah Lacks still learned extremely upsetting details about her mother’s illness and autopsy. Describe how Deborah found out about her mother’s painful death.

-How did Deborah react after reading about her mother’s death?

-Explain why Gold’s journalism could be considered irresponsible and/or unethical.

-How have laws regarding medical privacy changed since the early 1980s?

Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Secret to Immortality

-Explain how the human papillomavirus (HPV) causes cervical cancer.

- Are scientists able to definitively explain why HeLa grew so powerfully?

-Explain the theories that Henrietta’s family have about why her cells are so powerful.

-Describe the contribution that HeLa has made to research on the HIV virus and the AIDS epidemic.

-Explain Van Valen’s theory that HeLa cells are “no longer human.” Was his theory accepted by the scientific community? According to Stevenson, why did scientists develop the argument that HeLa cells are no longer human?

-Explain the Hayflick limit. Why are HeLa cells able to live beyond the Hayflick limit?

Chapter Twenty-Eight: After London

-What did Deborah hope would happen as a result of the BBC documentary?

-What motivated Pattillo to organize the HeLa Cancer Control Symposium?

-How did the people in Turner Station react to the presence of the BBC film crew and news of Henrietta’s new-found “fame”?

-Why did Deborah agree to help Speed and Wyche with their museum project? Describe the attempts Wyche made to get recognition for Henrietta and her family.

-What did Cofield do when he realized that the Lacks family had blocked his access to their family records? What were the results of his actions?

-Summarize the events in Deborah’s life leading up to her initial contact with Rebecca Skloot. How do these events help explain Deborah’s initial reluctance to talk with Skloot?