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In the beginning of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, we are introduced to Henrietta Lacks, born as Loretta Pleasant. She is a poor African American woman with little education. The author informs us that she grew up on a farm and her ancestors were slaves. Lacks grew up in a slave house and lived in the same bedroom with her cousin named David. Henrietta and her cousins have limited education due to the fact they worked on a farm. We then learn that Henrietta gets pregnant by David at the age of 14, which leads to her other cousin trying to commit suicide. David and Henrietta later have another child and decides to get married. Lacks must transition into an adult at the age of 14 because of early motherhood. Henrietta and her children lack medical attention which causes her second child to become sick. Having sexual encounters with family members and sex workers later affected David and Henrietta children medically.
It is explained that the laws are highly imposed during these times, and that Lacks only seeks medical attention if needed. Her population also didn’t seek regular medical visits. Not having regular doctor visits causes them to later have negative heath effects. The patients also found it difficult to understand the doctor’s terminology, which is another reason why they failed to visit the doctors.
Henrietta notices a knot on her while she is pregnant. After having her baby, her pain becomes worse and she deicides to visit the doctor. The doctors believed that the tumor that Lacks had on her womb was syphilis, but tests were negative for syphilis. Her doctor charts Henrietta for asymptomatic neurosyphilis but explains that she doesn’t visit the doctor. Lacks refusing to see the doctor regularly causes her diseases to get worse.
My thoughts concerning the first half of the book is that the doctors should be more comforting when it comes to patients. Visiting the doctor can be intimidating to patients, there for medical professionals should show more hospital. I’m astonished that family members were having sexual relations with their cousins on top of having sex with prostitutes. I believe that they weren’t aware of how serious it is to protect yourself from diseases that could become deadly.
Ever since I’ve started working in a hospital setting, I’ve seen doctors take medical conditions lightly and I’ve witnessed medical professionals give the best care. I believe that any medical professional should always go above and beyond to take care of patients. They also should make the patients feel like they can trust them with their well-being.
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