The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 4 Words: 1320 Downloads: 8 Date added: 2019/08/16 Category Medicine Essay Level High school Tags: Henrietta Lacks Essay Did you like this example? The story of Henrietta Lacks has several settings but the most important of them is her hometown. Located in Clover, Virginia, Henrietta inhabits a small town characterized by farming and agriculture. In fact, the log cabin she lived in for quite some time was the slave quarters of a tobacco plantation where she spent her younger years helping her grandfather. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" essay for you Create order Since this occurred prior to any of the civil rights movements of the later 20th century, her ethnicity and race were undermined greatly, one of the biggest health disparities she faced. Furthermore, she lived with her cousin who she eventually birthed several children to out of incestual marriage. These social determinants of health arguably set the tone for her lifes story and the unfortunate events that would come. More importantly, this story serves as evidence of how ones background and environment can impact their health and well-being. Given her race, ethnicity, ancestral background, and low level of education, it is clear that social expectations of her are extremely low, if not nonexistent. Whereas the incestual relationship with her first cousin was not socially acceptable, I believe that Henrietta in part, needed it for survival.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The other half of the story takes place in Baltimore, Maryland where Henrietta and her husband move to after talking with another cousin. This evidence shows the importance of family in Henriettas life. In a world where negros are viewed as less than equal and still discriminated upon regularly, living in the right setting is critical to their lives. Baltimore was also the location of Johns Hopkins Hospital, which would inevitably play a crucial role in her life. It is worth noting that at this time in the mid 20th century, healthcare and medical research was in the developmental stage. The concept of informed consent was rarely practiced and standardized laws regarding patient records and privacy were not valued.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Henrietta Lacks is the main character of the story. She is a black woman who is diagnosed with cervical cancer. Although she eventually dies, the cells found in her tumor would be the backbone of medical vaccines and treatments in later years. Henrietta is married to David Lacks, her first cousin who impregnates her at the early age of 14. Together, they have 5 children, one of which suffers a developmental disability. Other main characters include her children. Deborah Lacks, the daughter of Henrietta, was highly responsible for the information Rebecca Skloot details in the novel. Joe Lacks, the youngest son of Henrietta, suffers great setbacks from his mothers passing and in time winds up in jail which show the negative impacts on the lives of her family. Lucille Pleasant (Henriettas maiden name), is the daughter of Henrietta who is disabled. According to the book and some external research, it is believed that her condition is the result of syphilis she contacted from her father while in utero. This could thus serve as another example of how her determinants of health were the result her environment. The final main character of the story is Dr. George Gey, the scientist who was able to successfully turn the HeLa cells into an immortal cell line. He takes the role of the antagonist who used her cells without permission and is believed to have made an exorbitant amount of profit from it.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The story of Henriettas life as told by Rebecca Skloot details a sad story full of victimization and predation. Henrietta Lacks gets diagnosed with cervical cancer in the early 1950s. She undergoes various treatments including radiation and biopsies. When they remove samples of her cervix without her knowing, they discover that her cells are different from most human cells of the like. Instead of dying quick ly, her cells have a much longer duration of life. When Dr. George Gey receives them, he manipulates and tests them extensively. Ultimately, he develops a line of cells that are immortal. Eventually, they would be used to create the Polio vaccine which would lead the medical world to erupt in curiosity and research. The cells were then cloned and used by researchers from all around to study, test, and develop new breakthroughs about many of the diseases which plague society. Henriettas cells were taken without her consent which raises several questions about ethics and procedures. On top of that, she did not receive compensation for the profit made over her cells. The story thus details the journey her and her family went on to carry after her death in 1951 to reclaim the rights to Henriettas cells.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The book showcases many themes, all with significant applications to the real world. First and foremost, ethics. HeLa cells were harvested without the consent of Henrietta or her family. This was an invasion of privacy which then turned a profit at their expense. Another theme involves the religion of the family who viewed her death as the result of harm from doctors. They see the HeLa cells not as immortal, but as the soul of her body reincarnated. The science-made immortality contradicts with their beliefs which also violates the ethics of the research. Lastly, the book shows the bias of institutionalized racism that came with the development of HeLa cells. White doctors who undermined the privacy and consent of Henrietta are proof of social injustices committed by providers.  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One of the biggest problems Henrietta faces mirror her social determinants of health. As a black woman in the early 20th century, she was subjected to racism and was exploited by doctors with no regard for her privacy or ethics. Her poor economic status and low education put her at the mercy of the doctors as well as led her to make poor, life impacting decisions. With no access to healthcare, she was unable to get pre-natal care or learn that her husband may have had a sexually transmitted disease, thus causing her children to have medical issues.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Lack of literacy was also responsible for much of the problems the family faced after her death. The Lacks family was characterized by little education and even less health literacy. They are unable to understand much of what the doctors tell them, leaving them in the dark. The stark difference between the education and terms used by the doctors and lack of education of the Lacks leads to a gap in comprehension. Poor communication between the two leave them ignorant to what is being done with their mothers cells. Furthermore, language barriers between the family and doctors impedes communication even more. This combined with little patience or empathy leaves the Lacks with nothing but hatred and mistrust.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Another major problem faced in this situation is the lack of cultural competence on the doctors behalves. They were unable to provide effective health care to the Lacks due to their absence of awareness. Doctors were not only affected by implicit biases when they removed the cells without her consent, but also failed to consider its impact on the family. Therefore, they overstepped religious boundaries as set by the familys supernatural beliefs. Furthermore, their attitude regarding the Lacks understanding of what was happening contributed to the mistrust of health care providers. Consequently, no knowledge of the Lacks or their cultural values were ever taken into consideration. The combined effects of Henriettas social determinants of health, low literacy, and the lack of cultural competence by the doctors contributed to the health disparities the Lacks family endured. As a result, we can learn from this story as future healthcare providers. It shows how as a provider, we must cons ider the background of the patient including their environment and social settings to understand them better. We must also be cognizant of how we communicate with them as it is important that they understand the situation fully. Lastly, we must be aware of the cultural difference between the provider and the patient and take those into consideration because of the impact they may have on them or their family.

Of Mice and Men Commentary Free Essays

â€Å"Of Mice and Men† is a novel written by the 1962 Nobel Prize winner, John Steinbeck. It is an emotional tale of the extraordinary friendship between George and Lennie, who are traveling workers in the harsh depression years of the 1930s. George is a caring person whose love to Lennie is just like a father-son relationship, where Lennie, a mentally challenged man whose strength lies in body rather than brain, appears to be very dependent on George. We will write a custom essay sample on Of Mice and Men Commentary or any similar topic only for you Order Now â€Å"Of Mice and Men† teaches a universal theme about the nature of human beings that a person whose power exists over another turns corrupt. Steinbeck exploits the theme of power and control in his novel through the extensive use of sexism, racial discrimination, and the power of the strong over the weak. Sexism is the belief that one sex is superior over the other. In â€Å"Of Mice and Men†, Steinbeck undoubtedly shows that the power is centered on the majority sex, which is the males, against the minority, the females, where in this novel is â€Å"Curley’s wife†. By simply keeping the character nameless and using the expression â€Å"Curley’s wife† to identify her is a clear example of referring to her as an object without any respect rather than a person. Curley’s wife† shows how women during the early 1900s were inferior under the men. She is merely the spouse of Curley as far as all the men in the ranch are concerned. â€Å"They are only forced to relate to her through Curley; if they fear him or want no trouble, the men will stay away from her. George, for example, ha s set goals in his mind that he is committed to, thus he will stay away from her in order not to get into any trouble. On the other hand, if they do not fear anyone, they can enjoy their time with the intention of forming a physical relationship with her. Lennie, whose childish mind cannot comprehend why he should stay away from Curley’s wife, falls into the trap and gets severe consequences for doing so. â€Å"She is simply a person living in the ranch with the purpose of only to obey Curley with no voice to complain to. All the men including Curley may go to the â€Å"cathouse† and enjoy their time; Curley’s wife on the other hand, may not dare to do the same, along with Crooks. During the 1900s, racial discrimination was widely used throughout America, a land that is filled with various ethnic groups. Steinbeck portrays the cruel racist manner that is used throughout on the stable buck, Crooks. He lives a separate, isolated life under everyone in the ranch, and is incapable to protest, merely because he is black. He is terribly labeled with the epithet of a â€Å"nigger† from everyone else. Steinbeck portrays him as an unfortunate man for being born black with no power at all and may not do anything about it. He is not allowed to enter any white man’s room, and to slightly raise his own degraded dignity, does the same, not allowing any white man to his room; although he only says so, it is not necessarily true as we later on see that George and candy enter. Crooks is a person where all the sorrows and miseries of another can be thrown on him because he is powerless to object. As soon as Curley’s wife feels insulted from him and Candy, she threatens him verbally, using her superior social status as a white woman, â€Å"Well you keep your place then, Nigger. I could get you strung out in a tree so easy it ain’t even funny†. Although most people in the ranch appear to want friendship, they all live with hidden fear of each other. The years of the great depression left everyone trying to look stronger and better than the other, or otherwise the strong will get rid of them; the killing of Candy’s dog is a great symbol for that which makes it clear. Candy’s dog is ought to get shot and killed, even though it has spent its lifetime with Candy, because it is now old and useless. The stronger, in this case man (Carlson), mercilessly shoots Candy’s dog, who knew nothing of his grief fate. Candy then sees his reflection upon the killing of his dog, that he will soon get too old and therefore useless, which will then have him left alone. This pushes him into desperately asking George to permit him to join with him and Lennie for the pursuit of their own dream ranch, â€Å"Tha’s three hundred an’ fifty bucks I’d put in, I ain’t much good, but I could cook and tend the chickens and hoe the garden some†. On the contrary, Curley is a man who takes advantage of his authority and power to oppress and mock others to make himself seem stronger and even more powerful. He uses his power and gender to boss around with workers of his ranch and his wife, respectively. However, when he chose to do so towards Lennie, Lennie reacts angrily and smashes his hand. Through the intense use of sexism, racial discrimination, and the power of the strong over the weak, Steinbeck successfully exploits the theme of power and control. Whether it is mentally, physically, or money wise, power seems to be moving from one person to another depending on the situation. Perhaps it really is the roots of evil; that occurs as a result of someone realizing his power over others, and then uses it for his own personal desires, while taking advantage of others. In other words, as the Arabic proverb professes, a person’s power and freedom is corrupt when it limits the power and freedom of another. How to cite Of Mice and Men Commentary, Essay examples

Crime rate free essay sample

Nowadays, it is clear that the crime rate is increasing in our country. More and more crimes have happened for a long time. People are feeling unsecured with the crime situation and the fear of being a victim to keep increasing. The government has been taken some action to overcome these problems. However, it is not enough to reduce all incidences of crime. There are several steps or measures which can be taken to reduce the crime rate in Malaysia. First of all, it has to enact laws which impose stiffer penalties on criminals. It means that the government should reorganize, rearrange and investigate it properly. For example, the case of kidnappings and assaults should be extending the penalty of criminals. Apart from that, residents should set up neighborhood watch schemes around their housing area. Each house needs to have one person to guarded at night. They have a responsibility to go around the housing area. We will write a custom essay sample on Crime rate or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It can be two people are guarded for a night which a scheme can cover a single street, an apartment complex, a part or the whole of a housing estate. Last but not least, policemen should patrol the residential areas frequently. Policemen should set their booth around the residential areas. For instance, it has a few policemen guard at their booth and some of them should walk around there. In a nutshell, it is difficult to solve these problems in a short duration. The cooperation of all people is necessary in order to prevent personal safety. In my view, all of the above steps or measures will be effectively. Therefore, we will have safe and comfortable life.

Whats the Difference Between WordPress Plugins vs Themes Explained

Wondering whats the difference between WordPress plugins vs themes?In general,  you use a WordPress theme to change how your site looks and a plugin to add or change functionality on your site.However, in real life, the lines can get kind of blurred, which is why we think its helpful to spend some time covering the differences between WordPress plugins vs themes.Keep reading to learn more about the similarities and differences, as well as when you should use a plugin vs a theme. build any kind of website you could imagine, it would be bloated and confusing. Therefore, WordPress ‘core’ is kept deliberately streamlined. It includes only features useful to the vast majority of users.To shape your WordPress starter site into the website you want, you can install a unique collection of themes and plugins. These are add-ons to the platform – small pieces of software that can be downloaded and installed on your WordPress site. They include new features and functionalit y, ranging from the simple to the complex:In other words, you can think of WordPress as a modular system. You start with a basic foundation, and add on only the elements you need. This is an excellent way to build a website, as it means you have a lot of control over its look and function.The key differences between WordPress plugins vs themesSo far, we’ve talked about what these two types of add-ons have in common. However, they come in two ‘flavors’ for a reason. Lets cover the key differences between WordPress plugins vs themesWordPress themesWordPress themes are designed to make large-scale changes to your website’s appearance. This includes its design, layout, colors, navigation, and everything else involved in its overall look.Your WordPress site can only have one theme active at a time, while you can use as many plugins as you want.Most WordPress sites start out with a default theme installed, which is serviceable but looks very basic:However, by in stalling another theme, you can radically transform the way your site is laid out. For instance, here’s the same site pictured above, using the Hestia theme instead of the default Twenty Seventeen theme:Some themes, like Hestia, are ‘multipurpose’ in nature. This means they include customizations and options for a wide range of site types. Others are ‘niche’ themes, designed for a specific purpose (such as business themes or photography themes). Either way, you can almost always customize aspects of your chosen theme, such as its color scheme and even sidebar placements.WordPress pluginsWhile themes alter your website’s design, plugins are meant to add new features and functionalities. In simpler terms, themes affect what your site looks like, and plugins affect what it can do. This means plugins can’t be as easily summarized, since there are solutions for just about any functionality you can imagine.Some plugins focus on adding one spe cific feature to your site. Contact Form 7 is a perfect example, letting you build customizable forms and embed them on your pages.Other plugins, such as Jetpack or Wordfence, provide a variety of helpful tools and functionalities. No matter what you’d like your site to do, there’s a plugin to help get the job done.The overlap between WordPress plugins vs themesSo far, the distinction between WordPress plugins vs themes seems pretty clear. In theory, they’re two different types of add-ons with unique purposes. However, in practice, there is some overlap.The most common example is themes that do more than just alter your site’s appearance. Although visual style is still the focus of almost any theme, some will also include the types of features that could  be added by a plugin instead.For instance, many themes include ‘page builders’ – drag-and-drop editors that help you design more complex content. At the same time, you can also get a page builder in plugin form, such as Elementor or Beaver Builder, and use it with any theme you like:This is also an issue you’ll encounter when looking to build a very specific type of website. For instance, let’s say you want to create an online knowledge base. You could use a theme like KnowAll or a plugin such as Knowledge Base for Documents and FAQs, and either would provide you with the features you’ll need.How to decide whether you need a theme or a pluginIn most cases, it’s easy to figure out whether you should go looking for a theme or a plugin. If you want to change your site’s look and layout, a new theme is what you want. On the other hand, if you’re in need of a specific feature, plugins are typically your best bet.However, what should you do when you find yourself in a situation like those we described above? If what you need could conceivably be provided by either a theme or a plugin, you have a choice to make.Fortunately, i n most cases this choice is also pretty simple. Themes have a larger overall effect on your site, and changing your site’s theme can be a hassle you won’t want to go through very often. Therefore, it’s best to select your theme primarily based on the look and layout you want, rather than the features it includes. Then, you can add whatever additional functionality you require using plugins.The exception would be if you need to transform your site into something a little more out of the ordinary. For example, if you want to create a wiki, forum, or knowledge base, your job may be easier if you can find a theme providing both the overall look you want and the elements needed to make your site function correctly.The best way to determine what kind of tools you need is to spend some time exploring what’s available. As such, we’ll wrap up by pointing you towards the WordPress Plugin Directory and the WordPress Theme Directory:Both contain thousands of d iverse and vetted add-ons for your site. If you’re looking for something special, you may also want to take a look at the premium options on ThemeForest and CodeCanyon, and those in our own directory.ConclusionIn most cases, the difference between WordPress plugins vs themes is pretty clear. Themes alter your site’s layout and visual style, while plugins add all kinds of features and functionality. While there’s some overlap in those definitions, it’s best to choose a theme based on how you want your site to look, and then add on features via plugins as needed.Do you have any questions about WordPress plugins vs themes we havent answered here? Ask us anything in the comments section below! What's the difference between #WordPress #plugins vs #themes? Here's your answer!

Suspense 101 Definition and Tips for Building Heart-Stopping Narratives

Suspense 101 Definition and Tips for Building Heart-Stopping Narratives What Is Suspense in Literature? They say curiosity killed the cat - but satisfaction brought it back. Suspenseful stories depend on these very same traits in a reader. But just what is suspense in literature, and how can you weave that gripping tension into your own stories?This thorough guide will give you all the information you need†¦ and more. (See, we’re creating suspense already!)Check out the 50 best suspense books of all time over at Reedsy Discovery!What is literary suspense?Suspense is the tension a reader feels when they're not sure what will happen in a story - either during a single scene/chapter or throughout its overall arc. You might create suspense around anything that stokes readers’ curiosity, whether it’s a love triangle or a killer on the loose.You can use suspense in a story to:Heighten tension during a dramatic sceneConceal answers you don’t want to give awayBuild up to a twist and make it more powerfulKeep your reader turning the pages!While suspense is mos t frequently employed in mysteries and thrillers, it should be present in every work of fiction - curiosity is what compels readers to finish your book! However, the amount and type of suspense you use depends on exactly what you want your reader to experience. Learn all about literary suspense and how to create it in your novel! The 5 types of suspense (with examples)First of all, there are two types of suspense to know in terms of story structure: narrative suspense and short-term suspense. The first engages the reader with the central issue of the narrative, while the second keeps them intrigued minute to minute. A good novel has both.1. Narrative (long-term) suspenseWhile technically any literary suspense might be described as â€Å"narrative,† this refers to tension that builds throughout the entire story. In narrative suspense, you pose a question, problem, or mystery at the book’s beginning, divulge more about it as the plot progresses, and wrap it up near the climax or ending.Well-written narrative suspense makes it nearly impossible for readers to put down your book. However, that means the payoff has to be huge - if you’re going to tease readers for 300 pages, you need an incredible ending! This is part of why suspenseful stories often culminate in a plot twist or big reveal (o r both, as in the arc of Amy’s disappearance in Gone  Girl).When constructing this kind of suspense, you want to continuously hint at its resolution. But you also don’t want to overwhelm your reader; the constant pressure of an impending reveal can make them feel overly anxious as well as impatient. With that in mind, temper this pressure with character development, non-suspenseful plot progression, or even a different suspense arc, as in the example below.Example of narrative/long-term suspenseIn To Kill A Mockingbird, there are two arcs of narrative suspense: 1) the question of what will happen to Tom Robinson, and 2) the suspense surrounding the mysterious Boo Radley. Both issues are introduced near the beginning, gain traction throughout the story, and eventually collide at the end, when Boo Radley saves the kids from Bob Ewell after the Robinson trial.Having more than one arc of narrative suspense keeps the reader invested and gives the story added layers of dep th. You can also accomplish these goals by using short-term suspense, which we’ll discuss in our next section.What's the best suspense you've ever read (or written)? What are your tips for recreating it? Let us know in the comments below!

Dasani water Market Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Dasani water Market Analysis - Essay Example The social factors that influence consumers to purchase dasani water include reference groups and social status. Family groups are the most vital purchasing organizations within a particular society. Women have been constantly recognized as the primary purchaser for the family unit. Nonetheless, traditional responsibilities are changing since many women have started concentrating in their jobs while more men have started working from home (Glennon, 2002). Therefore, the buying behavior of this product has been affected by the changes in family buying habits where men have turned out to be the potential product buyers. Additionally, those individuals who are not married tend to buy bottled water because they do not have enough time to treat tap water for personal consumption. The company has realized increased sales among the college students. Majority of them are still single (Franklin & Madalinski, 2009). The social status of customers has also played a noteworthy role influencing the buying habits of Dasani water. Customers from rich and middle class families tend to buy the product while those from poor families prefer using tap water. For that reason, the number of sales recorded from the sale of dasani water has been high in the urban areas in comparison to the rural. The situation is attributed to differences in social status. Personal factors that have influenced customers to purchase Dasani water include occupation, activities, qualities, age, and stage of life. Many people working in offices tend to purchase dasani water because they believe that office tap waters are not clean for consumption (Doria, 2006). In addition, it is often difficult for such persons to access water at the desired time. People involved in rigorous activities such as sports need water to quench their thirst. Consequently, the company has embarked on marketing

Reaction paper Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Reaction paper - Assignment Example Social Media has relevance not only for regular internet users, but business as well (Riley, n. d). In the 21st century, social media has become a fast evolving tool of education, social connection, and job procurement. As such, the young and old alike must learn to use social media responsibly. This is ascribed to the fact that social media when used properly can ensure a better future for an individual; however, its misuse can spell academic, professional, and financial disaster. Therefore, this paper aims to present the arguments of academic experts on the significance of responsible use of social media accounts. Several academic experts assert that proper use of social media can help to strengthen the chances of a college student into getting into his preferred college. It will also help the student achieve a type of social life while in college that will help enhance their college learning and living experience. Social media has helped colleges and universities make the college experience more interesting and exciting for their potential and current students through the students responsible use of social media. According to researchers such as Mark Connolly of WCER, students have tightly packed academic schedules throughout the semester. However, that it not to say that the schools do not give the students some time off between classes by hosting social mixers and the like. Due to the sheer volume of students on campus, it is almost impossible to get the information out to all of them. This is where social media steps in as an excellent social connecting tool for students. He explains that social media helps to create enduring relationships between the students by facilitating the social connection of peers. He offers an example of this benefit as: Connecting fellow dorm students through Facebook can help a student overcome the kind of isolation that otherwise might lead