The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot (hardcover)

True story of Henrietta Lacks, a poor African-American woman whose cancer cells, known as HeLa cells, were taken w/o her knowledge/consent, becoming a vital tool in medical research.

HeLa cells:
Explains how Henrietta's cells, unlike any others, were found to be immortal & became a crucial resource for medical research, used in the development of the polio vaccine, gene mapping, other advancements.

Ethical issues:
Examines lack of informed consent for the use of Henrietta's cells & subsequent exploitation of her family, who were not informed abt the cells' existence for years & received no compensation from their use.

Impact on the Lacks family:
Highlights emotional/psychological toll on her family, who struggled to understand the significance of her cells & ethical implications of their use.

Race and class:
Explores historical context of medical experimentation on Black Americans & the impact of race & class on access to healthcare & scientific research.