The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

The cells that came from Henrietta Lacks are the most prominent symbol in the book. While in actuality they are the immortal cells that came from Henrietta’s cervical cancer, they are the foundation for a whole host of questions concerning medical and scientific ethics. To the scientific community, they represent a breakthrough in medical advancements, like the polio vaccine, as well as a means for profit. To Henrietta’s children, the cells are literally their mother, with Deborah even fearing that her mother might feel the pain of the HeLa cell experimentation. To Henrietta’s relative, Gary, the cells are Henrietta’s angelic presence on earth, sent to aid in healing people through medical research. 

During Henrietta’s autopsy, laboratory assistant Mary Kubicek sees Henrietta’s painted toenails and imagines her as a live person. For the first time, she considers that the cells she has been examining and distributing came from an actual, living person. The realization speaks to how Gey and his team dehumanized Henrietta and used her tissues as though her physical body had no connection to her personhood. Gey further dehumanizes Henrietta by refusing to name her to the scientific community; to him, her name isn’t relevant, only the use of her cells matters.