The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

The central theme of the book is scientific ethics and informed consent. Before surgery to remove her tumor, Henrietta signed a consent form allowing the doctors to “perform any operative procedures […] that they may deem necessary” (31). After her death, her husband signed an autopsy permission form, having been told that the doctors will run tests that may one day help his children. Yet, despite having given official and legal consent, neither Henrietta nor her husband had any idea of what they were agreeing to or what the consequences would be. Their incomprehension mirrors the Moore case, as the judge in that case ruled that Moore’s doctor should have disclosed his financial interests.

Henrietta’s family knew nothing about HeLa until decades after her death, and they are extremely angry that they were not told. Some family members also feel that they should receive financial compensation, as the research community profited from Henrietta’s cells. This theme questions whether the Lacks family has a moral or legal right to claim ownership of Henrietta’s cells, and whether our body parts and tissues cease to belong to us after they have been removed from our body, as the Supreme Court of California ruled in Moore’s case.