I love chemistry. It is not an easy subject, but when I understand a tough concept, I feel golden!! We started off with some simple compound-naming, but we quickly progressed and by the end of the session, we were balancing redox reactions in bases and acids. Our instructor, Dr. Sullivan, participates in CAPOW (Chemistry and Physics on Wheels) and he is a very down-to-Earth, kind man. He gave us practice problems to work on, kept us amused with demonstrations, and I have to say I did not see one person doze off in class!! Can't wait until tomorrow!
After lunch, we headed to study skills. Today's focus was reading comprehension and making the most of your notetaking in order to maximize retention. I already practice some of the tips we discussed today, and it felt good to know that I was on the right track!
During book club, we discussed the book more in depth now that we are about 80% done with the reading. Before starting the book, my opinion was that the Lacks family should be compensated for the HeLa cells. Now, I think it is not important to compensate them. Of course, doctors should not violate patients' privacy, but taking tidbits of tissue here and there was not a big ordeal in the 1950s. Had this practice been done today, it would be much different. Furthermore, I understand that the family is poor and in desperate need of money. However mean this sounds, I do not think that they family would be so motivated to seek compensation for the HeLa cells if they were not quite so poor. I know this last statement sounds a bit insensitive, but the family is poor and many of its members are desperately in debt.
However, I do think that the family should benefit because after all, Henrietta Lacks was their mother. Perhaps the family should receive some of the money made from the vials of cells that are sold. However, since HeLa cells have been used to develop many drugs and advance many experiments, I think it would be ridiculous to give the family compensation for every little thing that HeLa was used for. Also, others' tissues were taken without their permission so this could open doors to other lawsuits. Plus, HeLa cells are contaminating many other labs around the world, which results in very expensive damange. Should the Lacks family assume responsibility then since they say the cells are theirs? We watched a video featuring the family and one member says that they feel as if they have been "raped."
I do believe that the Lacks family is being taken advantage of. They should be acknowledged and have their fair share, but nothing too excessive...because there are likely many other patients who also had samples taken from them, even if their cells didn't live. As a future doctor, I care about practicing ethically and learning about this sort of stuff really intrigues me.That was basically the topic of today's book club. Good night!
After lunch, we headed to study skills. Today's focus was reading comprehension and making the most of your notetaking in order to maximize retention. I already practice some of the tips we discussed today, and it felt good to know that I was on the right track!
During book club, we discussed the book more in depth now that we are about 80% done with the reading. Before starting the book, my opinion was that the Lacks family should be compensated for the HeLa cells. Now, I think it is not important to compensate them. Of course, doctors should not violate patients' privacy, but taking tidbits of tissue here and there was not a big ordeal in the 1950s. Had this practice been done today, it would be much different. Furthermore, I understand that the family is poor and in desperate need of money. However mean this sounds, I do not think that they family would be so motivated to seek compensation for the HeLa cells if they were not quite so poor. I know this last statement sounds a bit insensitive, but the family is poor and many of its members are desperately in debt.
However, I do think that the family should benefit because after all, Henrietta Lacks was their mother. Perhaps the family should receive some of the money made from the vials of cells that are sold. However, since HeLa cells have been used to develop many drugs and advance many experiments, I think it would be ridiculous to give the family compensation for every little thing that HeLa was used for. Also, others' tissues were taken without their permission so this could open doors to other lawsuits. Plus, HeLa cells are contaminating many other labs around the world, which results in very expensive damange. Should the Lacks family assume responsibility then since they say the cells are theirs? We watched a video featuring the family and one member says that they feel as if they have been "raped."
I do believe that the Lacks family is being taken advantage of. They should be acknowledged and have their fair share, but nothing too excessive...because there are likely many other patients who also had samples taken from them, even if their cells didn't live. As a future doctor, I care about practicing ethically and learning about this sort of stuff really intrigues me.That was basically the topic of today's book club. Good night!