The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks Lesson Plan

Who Owns the Body? Debate

Kind of Activity:

Group Work

Objective:

Students will debate John Moore's case over the ownership of his cell line.

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.11-12.1; CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.11-12.1.D

Structure:

Though we know the outcome of John Moore's lawsuit against his doctor, David Golde, the courts went back and forth with their decision and not everyone is satisfied with the outcome.

Assign half of the class to argue Moore's side--that is, that UCLA and Golde deceived him, used his body in research without his consent, and that he had property rights over his tissues. The other half will argue in favor of Golde, maintaining that the Mo...