Henrietta Lacks Journal Entry Essays

Henrietta Lacks Journal Entry Essays Henrietta Lacks Journal Entry Essay Henrietta Lacks Journal Entry Essay Throughout Henrietta treatment there is confusion on whether or not she was discriminated against for being a Negro. Slots dialogue and text implies that she received the same treatment and Johns Hopkins hospital as she would as a white woman, although the time period suggests differently. The advancements of modern medicine are substantial since Henrietta underwent her cervical cancer treatment and even since Slots book was published, but even if the advancements in technology and sciences were present would they adhere to Lacks case since she as an African American woman? Henrietta individuality suggests she was a loving mother as well as a strong devoted individual. She had a special connection with children in general not Just her own. Henrietta strong personality is shown by her actions up until her death in 1951. The repetitious bleak doctors notes stand out to me throughout the first section of the book. The doctor seems to be removed from the disease and Just hoping for the best and not scientifically searching for the best options for Henrietta Lacks. This rapid progression was all new and the doctors were t a loss of what treatments or medical paths should be taken. In Chapter 8 entitled A Miserable Specimen, he writes comments towards the end of Henrietta treatment such as, Demeter does not seem to touch the pain. Morphine is tried, but this does not work either (Peg. 66). Other notes include, In view of rapid extension of the disease process the outlook is quite poor (Peg. 65) and, She continues to complain of lower abdomen pain, no evidence. Return in one month (peg. 63). By this point, the doctors have given up and Just let Henrietta wallow in her misery until death. Prior to reaching the ultimatum that Henrietta was in fact was going to die; the doctors were still removed from the situation. This was evident in the initial doctors notes that hinted there was nothing wrong with this woman because there were no visible signs that Henrietta was in fact ill and had cancer. Was this because she was colored and was overlooked or was the medical field not advanced enough to find precancerous signs? This questions remains. Yes, medicine was slowly advancing but at this time doctors often relied on only the visible signs of illness before treatment loud be done or even examinations were undergone. By this stage in not only cancer but many illnesses, the patient has passed the point of no return and the disease will infect the entire body and the small treatments such as radiation that Henrietta would undergo were only temporary fixes and only helped the patient for a short time period. The last chapters in Section 1: Life, are depressing and make the reader feel for Henrietta as an individual but also for her family. The Lacks family prior to her treatments had no idea what the family as a whole would embark on. This initial trip to John Hopkins forever changed what was the present Lacks family and later generations of the Lacks. The death of a family member in and of itself is a trauma, and this does not to even include the immortal Heal cells Lacks was to watch them play during her final time at Hopkins is vivid and shows the determinedness Henrietta had but also the love of a mother for her children. This image as well as the emotionless notes of the doctor set the tone for the struggle the Lacks set sail on. The generations of the Lacks family were hitting the high seas because of the sample of cells taken and examined at John Hopkins.