Why did George Gey decline to identify Henrietta lacks for journalist?

George Gey, the scientist who cultivated Henrietta Lacks' cancer cells, did not decline to identify Henrietta Lacks for journalists. In fact, he was the one who shared the name "Henrietta Lacks" with journalists, though he did so without her family's knowledge or consent.

This was a significant ethical breach, as it violated Henrietta's privacy and led to the public exposure of her medical information.

It's important to note that there's no clear explanation for why Gey did this. Some possible reasons include:

* Lack of awareness of privacy concerns: Medical ethics were different in the 1950s, and Gey may not have fully understood the implications of publicly identifying Henrietta.

* Desire to promote research: Gey was passionate about his work and may have believed that identifying Henrietta would help to promote research into cancer and other diseases.

* Lack of communication with family: Gey may not have realized the importance of informing Henrietta's family before sharing her name with the press.

Ultimately, Gey's decision had a significant impact on Henrietta's family, who were not aware of the use of their loved one's cells until years later. It also raises important questions about the ethics of medical research and the balance between scientific progress and patient privacy.