Ethical Dilemma and Technology Misuse in Medical Fiction of Rebecca Skloot’s The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Malak Salam Jubair
Tikrit University/ College of Education for Women
Lamiaa Ahmed Rasheed
Tikrit University/ College of Education for Women
DOI: https://doi.org/10.25130/Lang.8.9.21
Keywords: Ethical Dilemma, Medical Fiction, Rebecca Skloot's The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Neutralization Theory
Abstract
The rapid advancement of medical technology has introduced new ethical quandaries that are increasingly explored within medical fiction. To explore these ethical misconducts and implications of technology misuse, the study selects the medical novel Rebecca Skloot's The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. This study uses the Neutralization Theory of Sykes and Matza to examine the moral arguments and ethical conundrums raised in Rebecca Skloot's The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. In that, the novel investigates how authors use the medium of fiction to not only highlight the profound ethical questions surrounding the development and application of new technologies but also to expose the fragility of the systems and individuals tasked with wielding such power. This selected medical narrative serves as cautionary tales that force readers to confront the moral and philosophical implications of technological progress in the medical field, calling doctors to consider the delicate balance between scientific advancement and preserving human dignity, autonomy, and the sanctity of life.
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