Henrietta Skloot: The Issue Of Confidentiality

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Further, the issue of confidentiality is compounded by the fact that Henrietta was deceased at the time of the breach in confidentiality. “The dead have no right to privacy even if part of them is still alive” (Skloot, 2010, p. 211). Skloot clearly portrays the issues around the release of Henrietta’s medical records, breach of confidentiality, and the emotional impact this had on the Lacks family. Additionally, she addresses the impact that failure to inform Henrietta and her husband about the medical experimentation and questionable research that was being conducted on their eldest daughter Elsie had on the family. Furthermore, Skloot addresses examples of violations that occurred with other patients of bio-medical research, demonstrating

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