Effect on thoughts and theories

This book did not directly effect my thoughts theories, views of the world, etc. That being said, it certainly taught me an important lesson. That is, humanity and empathy must be at the center of science and medicine, always. It is imperative that scientists especially must keep in mind that when dealing with people that they are people and not just cells or numbers or enzymes. The book also brings up a related problem that is not easily solved with empathy and understanding. That being, the borderline nefarious world of tissue banking and research. All throughout the book and especially in the afterword Skloot exposes the reader to the fact that when doctors remove things from your body, they don't have to tell you where it's going for what its going to be used for. Everything from tonsils to blood samples are kept, stored and possibly experimented on. On the plus side, experimentation on tissues like these has led to modern medicine as we know it. On the down side, not knowing where your tissues are going and the fact that you have no ownership over something when it's removed from your body means they can be used for things you do not want them to be, and also means you do not get any money made off of them, such as in Henrietta Lacks' case. Companies made millions selling vials of her cells to researchers, and yet her family did see a cent of it. Overall, it opens the reader's eyes to a world usually hidden from public view, and also teaches the lesson that ignorance can be bliss.