Week 4 notes

 

Week 4 racism in medicine notes

 
Institutionalized racism
 
Different access to goods, services and opportunities of society by “race”
Bandages that are “flesh colored” are tan or whiter in skin tone
 economic disparities between racial groups make it more difficult for some to get health insurance, preventing people from getting medical care.
 
2014  20% of black adults could not access health insurance compared to 10% of white and Asian
 
2016 study – many white med students belived black people had a high pain tolerance, and 73% had one incorrect belief about biological race differences
 
These beliefs included thicker skin, less sensitive nerve endings, stronger immune systems
Started centuries ago as 19^th century doctors used these as excuses
Many beliefs started when slave holders were treating slaves inhumanly
 
Doctors tend to overlook signs in Asians as part of the model minority stereotype
Clinicans are likely to overlook symptoms of mental health and focus more on psychotic problems with black patients
 
Examples of famous people who have suffered due to medical racial bias:
Serena Williams; blood clots ignored when giving birth because she was black

Mind the Gap: A Handbook of Clinical Signs in Black and Brown Skin

Malone Mukwende