How The United States medical system mistreated people of color and how it's still haunted by slavery.

Racism in medicine has been part of American history and continues to be an undeniable social conflict in our nation.  Racism from doctors, nurses, hospital staff, and the government agency in charge to provide insurance and proper wellness to patients has been predominant in the medical field. 

According to an article from the Harvard Medical School, “It is well-established that treated blacks and other minority groups in the U.S. experience more illness, worse outcomes, and premature death compared with whites. These health disparities were first “officially” noted back in The 1980s, and though a concerted effort by government agencies resulted in some improvement, the most recent report shows ongoing differences by race and ethnicity for all measures” (Tello 2017).  

The essay goes into detail about the different care POC as patients often receive when needing medical care.  It is apparent that the most prominent type of racism in the medical field seems to be individual racism which contributes to the already systematic racism ingrained in society. 

When people of color (POC) attend doctor’s office with pain, they tend to be judge and stereotype as pills seekers or pain junkies.  The effect not only has helped the narcotic epidemic to be more predominant in the white population than the POC, but it has also unfairly negated proper treatment, when needed, to minorities.  

A survey from the Pew Research Center found that US adults tend to discriminate more often giving POC a disadvantage when seeking medical treatment.  People of color often profile and denied service because of assumptions, prejudice, and racism.  It is a current conflict that needs to be studied extensively to reach equality for all patients regardless of their ethnicity or race.  

*Further research is needed to balance the inequality currently existing in the medical field, health organizations, local governments, and the world.

 

Racial discrimination is reflected in the medical field because of many factors including the health care providers environment, economic disadvantage of the patients, systemic and individual racism, and prejudiced bias among others.

A clear example of discrimination in health care can be noticed when medical care and medication are often denied to minority patients and POC while willingly catering and overly prescribing to whites.  

A recent study from The National Center for Health Statistic (NCHS) discovered that white Americans were dying disproportional to POC from the opioids epidemic and the crisis regardless of changing numbers may be influenced by racist bias.  If a minority or a person of color genuinely has chronic pain it is very common that they may not receive the treatment they need.  However, if a white person goes to the doctor and complains of having pain regardless if its true or not there is a larger chance of getting pain medication. (NCHS, 2017)

When people of color (POC) visit any doctor’s office with chronic pain or any other similar illness, they tend to be judge and stereotype as pills seekers or pain junkies.  The effect not only has helped the narcotic epidemic to be more predominant in the white population than the POC and other minorities, but it has also unfairly negated proper treatment, when needed, to minorities and POC. 

Patricia Devine on Kicking the Prejudice Habit

According to the Ted Talk video the "divine solution", which it was proposed by Patricia Divine, is to dismantle racism and eliminating prejudice bias.  First, as a society, we need to recognize our bias and prejudice and start working into a more understanding of the causes and unfair treatment of minorities.  Only with education The United States can dismantle racism and create a new world of equality for all.

I have included the video of Mrs. Patricia Divine, titled "Kicking the Prejudice Habit" which it has inspired me to understand my own bias and work into helping educate the world and be part of the solution and not the problem.  

As always further research is needed to eliminate social bias and finally reach equality and justice for every human on the planet.

Thanks,

Brava <3 o:p="">

Resources: YouTube videos, readings, College module material, and Ted Talk video

Note: POC* People of Color

"Life is the result of our choices" - Brava