Last year, I took a bioethics course at school, and I was captivated by the complexities of everything from euthanasia to the legal nuances of judicial bypass, on which I wrote my final paper. I wanted to bring attention to this issue, so I turned to painting as a medium for advocacy. To create art that depicted meaningful issues in bioethics, I needed to learn more about them, so I applied for the Bioethics High School Internship at NYU.

John Merserelle, the coordinator of Medical Ethics at NYU, saw my application and asked me to help engage the public on topics like Henrietta Lacks, the Tuskegee Syphilis Crisis, euthanasia, and clinical anxieties through my art.  I was particularly captivated by the story of Henrietta Lacks because, despite the significant medical advancements derived from her cells—which my family and I have benefited from—I had never heard of her.

Painting Description

In the composition, doctors’ hands extend towards and examine Henrietta’s face, which is depicted as covered in cells. This visualization symbolizes the scientific community’s dominion over her cellular material. The portrayal, further emphasized by Henrietta’s uncomfortable expression, challenges the viewer to consider if manipulating her cells is equivalent to dominating her personal identity, highlighting the lack of her consent and blurring the lines between scientific intervention and personal autonomy.

Additionally, as some cells transition into coins while moving from her face to the doctors' hands, this transformation critiques the global medical community's profit from her cells—used in advancements like cloning and vaccine development. This highlights the ethical dilemma of the scientific community reaping financial benefits, which initially excluded her family.

Moreover, other cells morph into pills, collecting in a medicine box. This imagery raises a critical ethical question: Is the appropriation of her cells justified by the extensive benefits derived from the research and medical treatments developed from her genetic material?