Question 6

Rebecca Skloot disapproves of the way the science community treated Lacks and her family.

Rebecca Skloot's narrative highlights the ethical issues surrounding the exploitation of Henrietta Lacks's cells without informed consent, indicating her disapproval of the medical community's treatment of Lacks and her family.

A) disapproves of the way the science community treated Lacks and her family.

This option is correct as Skloot's work emphasizes the ethical implications of using Lacks's cells in research without consent. She critically examines how Lacks's family was left uninformed about the significance of her cells and the profits generated from them, showcasing a clear disapproval of the science community's actions.

B) thinks that people should profit when their tissue donations prove to be useful.

This option is incorrect because Skloot does not advocate for profit from tissue donations. Instead, she addresses the ethical concerns regarding consent and profit, suggesting that individuals should be informed and compensated for their contributions to research.

C) approves of George Gey's decisions but not of other researchers' decisions.

This option is incorrect as Skloot does not express outright approval of Gey's decisions. While she acknowledges Gey's role in advancing medical research, she critiques the lack of ethical standards applied to Lacks’s situation, indicating a more nuanced view rather than simple approval.

D) believes HeLa's value to science outweighs Henrietta's individual rights.

This option is also incorrect. Skloot's writing does not suggest that the scientific value of HeLa cells justifies the disregard for Henrietta's rights. Instead, she advocates for recognition of Lacks's contributions and the need for ethical considerations in medical research.

Conclusion

Rebecca Skloot's narrative in "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" fundamentally critiques the ethical lapses in medical research, particularly regarding consent and exploitation. Her disapproval of the treatment of Lacks and her family is a central theme, contrasting sharply with the other options that either misrepresent her views or overlook the ethical dimensions she emphasizes.