Lastly, the quote illustrates Henrietta’s generous and selfless spirit. Second, it introduces the idea of Henrietta’s cells making her immortal. First, it shows that at some point Henrietta was told of her cells’ importance and role they would play for civilization. If this exchange between Gey and Henrietta actually occurred, it’s significant for several reasons. She told him she was glad her pain would come to some good for someone.” Pg. “George told me he leaned over Henrietta’s bed and said, ‘Your cells will make you immortal.’ He told Henrietta her cells would help save the lives of countless people, and she smiled. Skloot passes Patillo’s test, because he puts her into contact with Henrietta’s family. If she truly wishes to tell Henrietta’s story, she should already know that science has a past of misusing Black bodies. When he asks Skloot what she knows about the relationship between Black people and science, he is testing her intentions. Seemingly perfunctory, Patillo’s question masks a relationship fraught with violence, deceit, and racism. “What do you know about African-Americans and science?” Pg. Is it ok to use humans as research without their consent? At what point should the rights of the individual supersede their possible contributions to the human race? This quote also foreshadows Henrietta’s story-George and Margaret Gey acquired Henrietta’s cells from John Hopkins hospital, which treated her for free. This quote introduces the topic of medical ethics to Skloot’s work and sets up many of the questions Skloot explores throughout the book. Many scientists believed that since patients were treated for free in the public wards, it was fair to use them as research subjects as a form of payment.” Pg 51 “Like many doctors of his era, TeLinde often used patients from the public wards for research, usually without their knowledge.
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