The ethical issues presented in The Immortal Life provide an introduction to exploring the history of ethics in science research in the US, as well as thoroughly exploring people’s prejudices and perceptions of science, scientists, and the research community at-large.

1. Confronting Science: African American
Perceptions of Science and Medical
Research
Missouri History Museum
Black History Month series
Dr. Danielle N. Lee

2. Ethics
Several ethical issues are broached in the
narrative.
What ethical dilemmas were revealed to
you?

3. 7 Major Ethical Themes
1. Consent and Informed consent
2. Privacy
3. Benevolent Deception
4. Vulnerable subjects
5. Blind Objectivity
6. Capitalistic Urges
7. Game changers

4. Consent & Informed consent
• What does consent mean to you? Would
others agree?
• Chapter 3. Diagnosis and Treatment
• Chapter 12. The Storm

5. Privacy
• Why does privacy matter? Who does it really
protect?
• Chapter 14. Helen Lane

6. Vulnerable subjects
• Who are vulnerable subjects? How can we
become less vulnerable?
• Chapter 6. Lady’s on the phone

7. Blind objectivity
• How does this defense resulted in
greater/prolonged mistrust of scientists by the
community?
• Chapter 7. The Death and Life of Cell Culture
• Chapter 12. The Storm

8. Capitalistic urges
• Everyone seemed to benefit from HeLa cells,
except the Lacks family. Can anything be done
to correct this?
• Chapter 13. The HeLa Factory
• Chapter 11. The Devil of Pain Itself

9. The Game Changer
• Do today’s codes of ethics and laws protect
patients and families today? How do you feel
about science/medical/pharmaceutical
research?
• Chapter 17. Illegal, Immoral, and Deplorable

10. Next in the Confronting Science Series:
Accessibility
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Contact me:
Danielle N. Lee
dnlee5@ymail.com
Twitter: @DNLee5
• Urban Science Adventures! © Exploring & discovering nature in urban places
http://urban-science.blogspot.com
• SouthernPlaylisticEvolutionMusic Evolutionary science remixed with phat beats
http://hiphopevolution.southernfriedscience.com