25 Discussion Questions for The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot (With Analysis) | Chapterly Blog
Rebecca Skloot's The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is a book that operates on multiple levels simultaneously — as science writing, as racial history, as family drama, and as an ethical investigation. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks discussion questions force readers to confront questions about who benefits from medical research, who is harmed, and whose consent matters. The story of Henrietta Lacks, a poor Black woman whose cancer cells were taken without her knowledge in 1951 and became one of the most important tools in modern medicine, remains deeply relevant to ongoing debates about medical ethics, racial justice, and informed consent. Whether you are leading a book club, teaching a bioethics course, or facilitating a community discussion, these 25 questions are designed to generate substantive conversation. These questions are organized by theme. Henrietta Lacks Discussion Questions: Medical Ethics and Consent The ethical questions raised by Henrietta Lacks's story are not historical curiosities — they remain unresolved in contemporary medicine. The taking of her cells without consent was legal at the time, and many current legal frameworks still do not give individuals ownership of excised tissue. These questions push readers to examine where the line falls between individual rights and...