Power's Influence on Henrieta Lacks

The power held by individuals and companies plays a heavy role in The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Power is held and exerted by those with financial, political, or physical superiority. All characters in the book are in some way affected by power, whether directly or indirectly. Without the absences of power of some individuals, especially Henrietta Lacks, the events in the book would have never transpired.

Power is held and exerted or ignored by those with the ability to act upon other people or cause an event. The scientific community held power over hospitals, scientists, and scientific progress because it can deem work valid, scientific, ethical, and otherwise. John Hopkins held power over its patients not only because they were under its care, but also because many could not pay for medical care. Individual doctors at Hopkins held power over their specific patients for the same reasons although they held more extensive powers over the specific patient. Henrietta held power over whether or not she received treatment. Zakariyya held power over the boy he murdered because he h...