Linda T. (snigglefitz) - , reviewed on 11/3/2016 + 22 more book reviews

I found this book fascinating. The story of Henrietta Lacks and her family and the various ways they interpreted medical intent after finding out about the growing HeLa cells was very interesting, but there is so much more. I was amazed by the changes in cell research since the 1950s, and the strides relative to obtaining patient consent. Researchers used test subjects, who often had no knowledge of a test being done, to see if injected cells would cause cancer (they did.)Despite what many would see as ethical concerns, it was not law. Researchers patented the cells of others for great commercial gains without the knowledge of those they took the cells from. Legally! We do NOT have the rights to our own body parts we may think we have.

The book is clearly written, and is the consummate mystery story.

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