1. Give an overview of what was so special about Henrietta's cervical cells when Mary began to culture them.
2. How do you feel about the fact that Henrietta was not told that her cancer treatments would leave her infertile?
Henrietta’s cells were special because when Mary started to culture them, they began to grow immediately. Mary found this to be somewhat normal and didn’t pay much attention to it. It wasn’t until it appeared that the cells were multiplying to double the amount each day that Mary and George realized that they had found a group of cancer cells that were rapidly dividing. What was odd was that the primary cancer cells died quite quickly, but the new cancer cells took longer and kept dividing.
I feel that her doctors are unprofessional and should have told her that she would be infertile. Although telling her this would have most likely made her not want to get the treatment, it is the patient’s choice and right to say whether they want the treatment or not.
1. What made her cells unique is that when Mary cultured them, they started to grow very quick. Obviously they were going to grow but she didn't notice how fast they were growing. By the time she found out how fast they were growing, the cells were doubling every day. They were splitting up and dividing. 2. The fact that they didn't tell her that her cells would become infertile is ridiculous. Many women want to have babies and if they can't its devastating, but to not be told that you can't have babies is just awful. The idea of life is to reproduce and to not be told that you can't reproduce is unethical.
Henrietta's cells were special because they started to divide at a rapid rate, doubling every 24 hours. Her other cervical cells died off very quickly, but the cancerous cells continued to divide in their nutrient solution.
Again, this shows a serious comprehension gap between the doctors and Henrietta. Henrietta lacks comprehensive education, and as a result, she distrusts science. As a result of her previous mistrust, and perhaps misunderstanding, of medicine, her doctors probably deliberately did not tell her she would become infertile,likely because they presumed she would have refused the treatment. The doctors probably also felt that her being infertile was better than her being dead.
Henrietta’s cells were special because the cells did not act like many of the other samples from patients. Henrietta’s cells continually grew when given enough space. They doubled over 24-hour periods and survived longer and grew faster than Henrietta’s normal cells. And as long as the cells had warmth and food, they kept growing and growing. Dr. Gey thought he had discovered the first immortal line of cells.
I think that the doctors should have consulted Henrietta about the procedure beforehand because she has the right to know what the effects of the surgery would be. In this case, Henrietta would lose her ability to give birth. But since the doctors never consulted her about it, they could not find out that Henrietta placed high value on her ability to reproduce. Even so, the doctors at the time were acting within their hospital’s norms since they saw patients receiving free treatment almost as property of the hospital.
from Kai 1. When Mary began to culture the cells, 2 days later she started to see them grow. However, it wasn’t surprising at first, until after another day they doubled in size. This kept happening; her cancer cells kept growing and growing. 2. I think it is wrong that the doctor didn’t tell her until after the treatment that she wouldn’t be able to have a child. By the time she found out it was too late. I think if Henrietta knew she couldn’t have kids after the radiation treatment she would have never done them.
1. What was so special about Henrietta’s cervical cells when Mary began to culture them was that they began dividing very rapidly. The regular cervical cells died rapidly, however, the cancerous cells continued to divide rapidly. The cells were doubling over every 24 hour period.
2. The fact that the doctors did not tell Henrietta that her cancer treatments would leave her infertile is completely unethical. Anything that happens to a patient must be by the choice of the patient, and the doctors must disclose all the information to the patient. At the time doctors treated uneducated people differently because they did not have the education to understand all of the treatments available to them; this does not mean that doctors have the right to not disclose information to the patient. The doctors probably could see from her previous medical record that she has not taken treatments and they probably believed that if she knew the treatment would make her infertile she would not take part in it even though it could save her life. I think it is important for patients to receive the treatment they need, but this does not mean that the doctors can hold back information.
1. Henrietta's cells were interesting because when Mary began culturing them, they began to grow very quickly. However, it wasn't until they noticed, the next day, that her cells began to double every day, dividing and growing very rapidly. 2. The fact that the doctors did not tell Henritall that she would be infertile after the treatment was unethical even thought they had their reasons for doing so. She definitely deserves the right to know this information, and decide what she wants to do. This matter violated the rights ethic because they were keeping important information from her. However, the doctors probably considered the fact that she might not have the education or medical understanding to fully comprehend the situation, and might just choose not to have this treatment. The doctors knew that they would rather have her live and be infertile, then die. So, ethically, the doctors also followed the Hippocratic oath, and decided not to tell her.
Emma Lasky
ReplyDeleteJanuary 24. 2013
Henrietta’s cells were special because when Mary started to culture them, they began to grow immediately. Mary found this to be somewhat normal and didn’t pay much attention to it. It wasn’t until it appeared that the cells were multiplying to double the amount each day that Mary and George realized that they had found a group of cancer cells that were rapidly dividing. What was odd was that the primary cancer cells died quite quickly, but the new cancer cells took longer and kept dividing.
I feel that her doctors are unprofessional and should have told her that she would be infertile. Although telling her this would have most likely made her not want to get the treatment, it is the patient’s choice and right to say whether they want the treatment or not.
Andrew Kaminsky
ReplyDelete1. What made her cells unique is that when Mary cultured them, they started to grow very quick. Obviously they were going to grow but she didn't notice how fast they were growing. By the time she found out how fast they were growing, the cells were doubling every day. They were splitting up and dividing.
2. The fact that they didn't tell her that her cells would become infertile is ridiculous. Many women want to have babies and if they can't its devastating, but to not be told that you can't have babies is just awful. The idea of life is to reproduce and to not be told that you can't reproduce is unethical.
Henrietta's cells were special because they started to divide at a rapid rate, doubling every 24 hours. Her other cervical cells died off very quickly, but the cancerous cells continued to divide in their nutrient solution.
ReplyDeleteAgain, this shows a serious comprehension gap between the doctors and Henrietta. Henrietta lacks comprehensive education, and as a result, she distrusts science. As a result of her previous mistrust, and perhaps misunderstanding, of medicine, her doctors probably deliberately did not tell her she would become infertile,likely because they presumed she would have refused the treatment. The doctors probably also felt that her being infertile was better than her being dead.
Henrietta’s cells were special because the cells did not act like many of the other samples from patients. Henrietta’s cells continually grew when given enough space. They doubled over 24-hour periods and survived longer and grew faster than Henrietta’s normal cells. And as long as the cells had warmth and food, they kept growing and growing. Dr. Gey thought he had discovered the first immortal line of cells.
ReplyDeleteI think that the doctors should have consulted Henrietta about the procedure beforehand because she has the right to know what the effects of the surgery would be. In this case, Henrietta would lose her ability to give birth. But since the doctors never consulted her about it, they could not find out that Henrietta placed high value on her ability to reproduce. Even so, the doctors at the time were acting within their hospital’s norms since they saw patients receiving free treatment almost as property of the hospital.
from Kai
ReplyDelete1. When Mary began to culture the cells, 2 days later she started to see them grow. However, it wasn’t surprising at first, until after another day they doubled in size. This kept happening; her cancer cells kept growing and growing.
2. I think it is wrong that the doctor didn’t tell her until after the treatment that she wouldn’t be able to have a child. By the time she found out it was too late. I think if Henrietta knew she couldn’t have kids after the radiation treatment she would have never done them.
1. What was so special about Henrietta’s cervical cells when Mary began to culture them was that they began dividing very rapidly. The regular cervical cells died rapidly, however, the cancerous cells continued to divide rapidly. The cells were doubling over every 24 hour period.
ReplyDelete2. The fact that the doctors did not tell Henrietta that her cancer treatments would leave her infertile is completely unethical. Anything that happens to a patient must be by the choice of the patient, and the doctors must disclose all the information to the patient. At the time doctors treated uneducated people differently because they did not have the education to understand all of the treatments available to them; this does not mean that doctors have the right to not disclose information to the patient. The doctors probably could see from her previous medical record that she has not taken treatments and they probably believed that if she knew the treatment would make her infertile she would not take part in it even though it could save her life. I think it is important for patients to receive the treatment they need, but this does not mean that the doctors can hold back information.
1. Henrietta's cells were interesting because when Mary began culturing them, they began to grow very quickly. However, it wasn't until they noticed, the next day, that her cells began to double every day, dividing and growing very rapidly.
ReplyDelete2. The fact that the doctors did not tell Henritall that she would be infertile after the treatment was unethical even thought they had their reasons for doing so. She definitely deserves the right to know this information, and decide what she wants to do. This matter violated the rights ethic because they were keeping important information from her. However, the doctors probably considered the fact that she might not have the education or medical understanding to fully comprehend the situation, and might just choose not to have this treatment. The doctors knew that they would rather have her live and be infertile, then die. So, ethically, the doctors also followed the Hippocratic oath, and decided not to tell her.