Polio, Fowl pox, Herpes and Mumps are disease that have devastated the health of
People for centuries. The accidental finding of HeLa Cells gave birth to modern
medicine. HeLa is cell of a black Afro American who had cancer. Dr Howard Jones
her gynecologist took a sample of her tumor and sent it to Dr Georges Gey
laboratory. Dr Gey is also a scientist who tried to grow unsuccessful human cells
for years. Henrietta Lacks died on October4,1951. She left five children who must of
them were too young to remember her, and she also left a legacy in the
medicine. In the following essay we will talk about how Henrietta Lacks’
children react about their mother’s cell and should the Lackses get compensated
for their mother miracle cell.
There are so many reasons and so many reactions Henrietta’s children
have. When Henrietta Lacks died nobody in the family talked about her anymore.
After several years when Henrietta’s children learned what happen to their
mother, they get so angry because the scientist didn’t include them. According
to Deborah on of Henrietta children “ I use to get mad about that to where it made me sick and I have to take medicine”(page 9). The children feel because their mother was black woman and
vulnerable, the doctor take advantage of her. Eventually you can feel their pain
and it is crazy because you going to think the mother of the modern medicine
children should benefit and be involve in their mother’s cell
research
In my opinion, the money should came from the American government and the
pharmaceutics company made a lot money with HeLa cell by testing different
drugs. Future more the compensation would be an honor for Henrietta Lacks and
her family to show appreciation for Henrietta’s gift to medicine. I also
strongly feel the honor should come voluntary to the family not fighting for it
because their mother was a peaceful sweet lady and her contribution helped the
entire world including her children who is fighting. So out of respect for their
mother and for her reputation she left on the legacy, they should go for public
assistance and should stop thinking how special to be treat like everybody else.
In fact, Basic on human right to have health insurance, money should not
determine about race, gender or amount of their income to be qualify for public
assistance.
Personally, if I was in their situation, I would elect to adopt public
health insurance. I also strongly feel that pride was a major setback for the
family. In all honesty, if I was in their situation, I put my pride away and
stop fighting and let everything came to me by themselves, For me it is like
fighting with my shadow because I don't really know who should pay me and where
the money should came from. As a matter of fact, we all benefit from HeLa.
Should I pay myself? And I believe
in that proverb that says “the past is the past”. So I have to look forward and
think about the future. I am going to take the public assistance which would
benefit for me and my family. And stop fighting for something probably we will
never have.
In conclusion, life is not easy like we think and it is full of
surprises, so we should live everyday like it is our last because we don't know
what may happen tomorrow. If it wasn't for Henrietta, modern medicine would not
be at the level it is today. Everybody, including the family should be grateful
for that revolution in medicine.
By: Sandy, Ruban