Skloot suggests that Gey may have created the pseudonym “Helen Lane” in order “to throw journalists off the trail of Henrietta’s real identity” (109). Would you characterize this as a benevolent lie?
Given the heartache experienced by the Lacks family after they learned of the contribution Henrietta’s cells made to science, do you think the Lackses would have been better off never knowing the truth?
I don't think Gey's actions could be said to be a "benevolent lie" but an attempt to protect Henrietta and her family. I am not sure what action I would take but I think this would be the most appropriate considering that the knowledge Gey had found was new to him and everyone else. I think that reporters would have begun bothering the Lacks family at this time rather than later. At another standpoint, this also could have been an attempt for Gey to protect himself too since the sample he took was not made known to the Lacks family. Whatever he had in mind at that moment, the Lacks family was protected from reporters at a time when Henrietta’s death was only three years past, and I think this was best. I do applaud the fact that the Lacks family discovered HeLa and its connection to Henrietta because her children finally got to learn about their mom in some way. I also think they were able to feel pride in the fact that their mother made such a great contribution to our world, despite the hardships they had to endure.
I think Gey was only trying to protect himself. I would hope that his intentions were to protect the family, but according to the medical charts I don't believe anyone had the Lacks' best interest in mind.
I believe that the family should have been brought to the awareness of the situation as soon as possible. While Gey might have done them a favor in keeping the reporters from bothering the family of Henrietta, it was also not fair for him to consequently decide that they should not learn of how Henrietta's cells were being used. It seems as if Gey could have only been saving himself the task of breaking the news to the Lacks rather than saving them from being pestered by reporters.
I think Gey might of believed he was protecting the Lacks family, but he definately could've done more that just give reporters a fake name. The real name was going to get out eventually. If he wanted to help the family, he should've personally contacted them and told them what was happening with the cells and warned them about all of the attention they would be getting. I don't think the family would've been better off not knowing. They deserved to know what happened to their mom, even though it didn't really have a positive effect on them.
I definitely agree. I think to some extent it could be called a benevolent lie. I think in part he did it to protect himself and the family. However, in protecting the family I do not think he did so properly. He should have informed them. I think the Lacks family should have been informed, even though it may have been difficult to understand, about the cells and had control over releasing Henrietta’s name to the public. They had the right to know about their mother and especially what good her cells would be doing for people.
I think Gey was protecting him self to some degree, but also Henrietta and the family. The second word got out about her family, they had to start going for tests too and i'm sure Gey saw that coming. As for if the Lackses would've been better off not knowing at all, they probably would've been better off. They all went through some pretty tough times with those cells and everything surrounding them and it all could've been avoided.
I would not characterize this lie as "benevolent" because by telling the lie it did not give honor or credit to Henrietta Lacks or her family where credit was due. I feel the Lacks family would have felt much less deceived had they been educated of the value of Henrietta's cells and what the meant to science. The apparent physical and emotional distress on the family, primarily Deborah, caused by the issue of HeLa I feel was intensified because the Lackes were kept in the dark about the issue for so many years and it was so foreign to them. I agree with Matthew that they had the right to know about Henrietta’s cells even if it caused emotional hardship for the family.
I agree with Morgan that Gey was protecting himself. Like Matthew said, he could've called. I understand how confused they would've been, but if he had spun it into a positive (like the fixing Stevie Wonders eyes spin) they would've been proud to give her the credit. Gey knew eventually they would find out the money that was out there being made if he released her real name, so he covered his negligence.
If Gey was so concerned with protecting the family, wouldn't he have informed them of his plans? Or asked permission to use her cells in the first place? Although he may have had some interest in protecting the family once he learned of the vast potential Henrietta's cells offered, I think he was probably more concerned with the consequences that could befall him. I wouldn't call it benevolent.
I don't think Gey's actions could be said to be a "benevolent lie" but an attempt to protect Henrietta and her family. I am not sure what action I would take but I think this would be the most appropriate considering that the knowledge Gey had found was new to him and everyone else. I think that reporters would have begun bothering the Lacks family at this time rather than later. At another standpoint, this also could have been an attempt for Gey to protect himself too since the sample he took was not made known to the Lacks family. Whatever he had in mind at that moment, the Lacks family was protected from reporters at a time when Henrietta’s death was only three years past, and I think this was best. I do applaud the fact that the Lacks family discovered HeLa and its connection to Henrietta because her children finally got to learn about their mom in some way. I also think they were able to feel pride in the fact that their mother made such a great contribution to our world, despite the hardships they had to endure.
ReplyDeleteChelsi Norris
I think Gey was only trying to protect himself. I would hope that his intentions were to protect the family, but according to the medical charts I don't believe anyone had the Lacks' best interest in mind.
DeleteMorgan Hicks
I believe that the family should have been brought to the awareness of the situation as soon as possible. While Gey might have done them a favor in keeping the reporters from bothering the family of Henrietta, it was also not fair for him to consequently decide that they should not learn of how Henrietta's cells were being used. It seems as if Gey could have only been saving himself the task of breaking the news to the Lacks rather than saving them from being pestered by reporters.
DeleteI think Gey might of believed he was protecting the Lacks family, but he definately could've done more that just give reporters a fake name. The real name was going to get out eventually. If he wanted to help the family, he should've personally contacted them and told them what was happening with the cells and warned them about all of the attention they would be getting. I don't think the family would've been better off not knowing. They deserved to know what happened to their mom, even though it didn't really have a positive effect on them.
ReplyDeleteMatthew Parham
I definitely agree. I think to some extent it could be called a benevolent lie. I think in part he did it to protect himself and the family. However, in protecting the family I do not think he did so properly. He should have informed them. I think the Lacks family should have been informed, even though it may have been difficult to understand, about the cells and had control over releasing Henrietta’s name to the public. They had the right to know about their mother and especially what good her cells would be doing for people.
DeleteI think Gey was protecting him self to some degree, but also Henrietta and the family. The second word got out about her family, they had to start going for tests too and i'm sure Gey saw that coming. As for if the Lackses would've been better off not knowing at all, they probably would've been better off. They all went through some pretty tough times with those cells and everything surrounding them and it all could've been avoided.
ReplyDeleteI would not characterize this lie as "benevolent" because by telling the lie it did not give honor or credit to Henrietta Lacks or her family where credit was due. I feel the Lacks family would have felt much less deceived had they been educated of the value of Henrietta's cells and what the meant to science. The apparent physical and emotional distress on the family, primarily Deborah, caused by the issue of HeLa I feel was intensified because the Lackes were kept in the dark about the issue for so many years and it was so foreign to them. I agree with Matthew that they had the right to know about Henrietta’s cells even if it caused emotional hardship for the family.
ReplyDeleteAnna Talkington
I agree with Morgan that Gey was protecting himself. Like Matthew said, he could've called. I understand how confused they would've been, but if he had spun it into a positive (like the fixing Stevie Wonders eyes spin) they would've been proud to give her the credit. Gey knew eventually they would find out the money that was out there being made if he released her real name, so he covered his negligence.
ReplyDeleteIf Gey was so concerned with protecting the family, wouldn't he have informed them of his plans? Or asked permission to use her cells in the first place? Although he may have had some interest in protecting the family once he learned of the vast potential Henrietta's cells offered, I think he was probably more concerned with the consequences that could befall him. I wouldn't call it benevolent.
ReplyDelete