Minorities Discriminated Against in Hospitals
May 12, 2001
According to a Seattle area study, 10% of minorities experienced some form of discrimination in hospitals, clinics, or doctors' offices. The study revealed that such discrimination tends to discourage minorities from seeking medical attention when they need it most. "We have major, major problems," said King County Executive Ron Sims.
"We are disturbed that this national trend is apparent in King County. ... It undermines respect for human dignity and human rights."
The study looked at 30 public and private medical facilities in the Seattle area and it included surveys from almost 4,000 participants. Many minorities reported that they experienced discriminatory behavior on more than one occasion. Most of the discrimination occurring in medical facilities consists of rude behavior or racial slurs. "The receptionist was cold; she would not look at me," one respondent said. "The nurse belittled me," another said. "The radiologist made a couple of crude remarks, like I was dumb," said another. "You people accepted pain as part of slavery because you tolerate pain so well," a nurse said. Even an attending physician at a medical center told a patient during a gynecological exam, "Being a typical black woman, I bet you haven't dieted in over 20 years."
Researchers say that discrimination may explain why some minority groups suffer from higher incidences of certain diseases, like diabetes. African Americans develop diabetes at 4 times the rate of whites. Additionally, blacks tend to have a higher rate of infant mortality, colorectal-cancer, and asthma. "When there are no biological factors in race that would explain this, you have to ask what else is going on. ...You have to look at the content and context of care," said Alonzo Plough, director of Public Health.
-- Article Courtesy of InjuryBoard.com
More ...
- Racial Discrimination: Overview
- Cargill Sued For Racial Discrimination
- Five New York F.B.I. Agents File Racial Discrimination Lawsuit
.