1. What were some of the challenges Henrietta Lacks faced in accessing medical treatment for her cervical cancer? (00:02:19 - 00:02:58)

Question

2. Are these challenges still issues today? Please explain why or why not.

Answer 1

1. Henrietta Lacks faced several challenges in accessing medical treatment for her cervical cancer, primarily rooted in systemic racism and inequities in the healthcare system during the 1950s. She was a poor African American woman, and her socioeconomic status limited her access to quality medical care. Additionally, there were racial biases within the medical community that influenced her treatment options. She received treatment at Johns Hopkins Hospital, which was one of the few hospitals that treated Black patients, but her care was largely inadequate due to her financial situation and the prevailing attitudes towards race at the time. Furthermore, her consent for medical procedures was not appropriately sought, highlighting issues of informed consent and exploitation in medical research.

2. While some progress has been made since Henrietta Lacks's time, many of the challenges she faced still resonate in today's healthcare system. Disparities in access to medical treatment persist, particularly for marginalized communities, including people of color and those with lower socioeconomic status. Systemic racism and socioeconomic factors continue to affect health outcomes, leading to inequities in how healthcare services are provided. Issues related to informed consent and ethical treatment in medical research remain relevant, as debates about patient rights and equity in health care continue to evolve. While awareness of these issues has increased, disparities in access and treatment are still present, indicating that the challenges faced by Lacks are part of a broader systemic problem that requires ongoing attention and action.