BS: I M M O R T A L

Subject: BS: I M M O R T A L
From: robomatic
Date: 04 Aug 17 - 09:47 PM

I'm currently reading "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot. And, coincidentally, watching "Law and Order" today found out that they framed an episode around the story of Henrietta Lacks.

I recommend the book highly. It tells a many layered tale of the history of human cell research in the latter half of the Twentieth Century, tied to the persons who contributed the original cell line that enabled a gargantuan volume of medical research.

The events date to the early 1950s and the developing concepts of who owns genetic material. Some of this material was covered in Rolling Stone magazine in the 1970s and a BBC Documentary "The Way of All Flesh" from 2008.

I think the book is an excellent source for the story and relates it well with the complex racial context that it occurs in.

Subject: RE: BS: I M M O R T A L
From: DaveRo
Date: 05 Aug 17 - 07:35 AM

I've read it, and I second the recommendation.

There's recent film of this, with Oprah Winfrey. I've not seen it - I rarely watch films based on books I've read* - and I wonder if they made it into a straightforward case of exploitation, which it wasn't really. Not straightforward, that is.

Anyone seen it? If not, read the book instead.

* Except where the book is 'unfilmable' - the result is sometimes excellent e.g A Cock and Bull Story. But I digress.

Subject: RE: BS: I M M O R T A L
From: Donuel
Date: 07 Aug 17 - 08:33 AM

The ethical problems regarding life ownership are worse today.
You do not own your DNA.
A corporation owns it.

Subject: RE: BS: I M M O R T A L
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Aug 17 - 07:43 AM

The book also illustrates how a european-heritage person in the US might earn trust, and be an effective ally to people of the global majority.

If one is interested in how race intersects with the US healthcare system, another good book is MEDICAL APARTHEID; Ms. Lacks' story is one of millions of other instances of injustice for the benefit of european-heritage profit and longevity.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: I M M O R T A L
From: Jack Campin
Date: 08 Aug 17 - 08:24 AM

Susan is spot on. The world needs all the Rebecca Skloots it can get.

Her description of the relentless oppression of Lacks's family for generation after generation is heartbreaking.