In times of desperation, we are morally impulsive in our decision making that sometimes lead to misfortune among others. What’s best for the greater good, isn’t necessarily what’s best for the individual. This moral dilemma relates to the issues in the novel Dawn by Octavia Butler and an article written about Henrietta Lacks by Jessica L Stump . Circumstances when somatic rights are thrown aside isn’t acceptable without consent, however, in times of desperation, we often side in favour of the group rather then the individual. With trying to preserve the human population from extinction, the Oankali’s tamper with Lilith’s own body without her consent. This later leaves her with an uncomfortable scar that affects her emotionally. When
…show more content…
Somatic rights is the meaning behind the individual 's right to do what they want with their own body Butler uses the Oankali to play the role as medical researchers who neglect these rights for the sake of everyone else. They leave Lilith with a “long scar across her abdomen” (Butler) for which she doesn 't realize how it got there or why. Her feelings of discomfort rise because “[s]he did not own herself any longer. Even her flesh could be cut and stitched without her consent or knowledge” (Butler). However, through all of her “misery, isolation, and silence” (Butler), she simply didn’t understand why this was happening. In order to save the human population and the earth from the war, the Oankali spent their “[t]ime and efforts [on] restoring [both of them]” (Butler). Although the Oankali neglected Lilith and her somatic rights, they actually were doing what was best for the greater good. Yes, it was wrong to have Lilith “confined [in such a] way [that] kept [her] helpless, alone, and ignorant” (Butler). But at the same time, Lilith’s captors, or “mutilators” how she puts it, were only looking out for what’s best for the greater …show more content…
Despite going against what is ethically right in invading Henrietta lacks somatic rights, the world has seen a myriad of disease antidotes. Still to this day even, “[her] cells have become the standard laboratory workhorse”(Stump 131). If they had not taken HeLa cells for research, there’s no way to tell if we could have suffered a mutilating cost. Without the cures HeLa cells have done, we could have reached an apocalyptic scene where those very diseases that were cured might have spread across the world, killing millions. The Executive Director of the Presidential Commissions Lisa M. Lee states, “The benefits of research have to outweigh the risks to the individuals involved” (Stump 131). Relating back to the story of Dawn, where it actually takes place in an apocalyptic scene, even though Lilith felt “[s]he did not own herself anymore” (Butler), in sake of the greater good, using her body without consent may have been the smarter move after
Somatic rights is the meaning behind the individual 's right to do what they want with their own body Butler uses the Oankali to play the role as medical researchers who neglect these rights for the sake of everyone else. They leave Lilith with a “long scar across her abdomen” (Butler) for which she doesn 't realize how it got there or why. Her feelings of discomfort rise because “[s]he did not own herself any longer. Even her flesh could be cut and stitched without her consent or knowledge” (Butler). However, through all of her “misery, isolation, and silence” (Butler), she simply didn’t understand why this was happening. In order to save the human population and the earth from the war, the Oankali spent their “[t]ime and efforts [on] restoring [both of them]” (Butler). Although the Oankali neglected Lilith and her somatic rights, they actually were doing what was best for the greater good. Yes, it was wrong to have Lilith “confined [in such a] way [that] kept [her] helpless, alone, and ignorant” (Butler). But at the same time, Lilith’s captors, or “mutilators” how she puts it, were only looking out for what’s best for the greater …show more content…
Despite going against what is ethically right in invading Henrietta lacks somatic rights, the world has seen a myriad of disease antidotes. Still to this day even, “[her] cells have become the standard laboratory workhorse”(Stump 131). If they had not taken HeLa cells for research, there’s no way to tell if we could have suffered a mutilating cost. Without the cures HeLa cells have done, we could have reached an apocalyptic scene where those very diseases that were cured might have spread across the world, killing millions. The Executive Director of the Presidential Commissions Lisa M. Lee states, “The benefits of research have to outweigh the risks to the individuals involved” (Stump 131). Relating back to the story of Dawn, where it actually takes place in an apocalyptic scene, even though Lilith felt “[s]he did not own herself anymore” (Butler), in sake of the greater good, using her body without consent may have been the smarter move after