Combating systematic biases, prejudice in medical care

April 30, 2023 /Health/ — The uncomfortable truth: Race, gender, sexual orientation, age, body size, income, and other cultural factors have a significant bearing on whether you will be diagnosed and treated correctly. The history of systematic biases, prejudice in medical care can no longer be overlooked. The good news is regardless of whether you are a patient, healthcare provider, or administrator, there are steps you can take today to combat medical bias.

Medical bias is a serious problem that can have a devastating impact on patients. It can lead to misdiagnosis, delayed treatment, and even death. There are a number of factors that can contribute to medical bias, including:

Implicit bias: Implicit bias is unconscious prejudice or discrimination that affects our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It can be based on race, gender, sexual orientation, age, body size, income, and other factors.

Explicit bias: Explicit bias is conscious prejudice or discrimination that is intentional and deliberate. It can be based on the same factors as implicit bias.

Systemic bias: Systemic bias is bias that is embedded in the systems and structures of society. It can be found in the healthcare system, the criminal justice system, the education system, and other institutions.

There are a number of things that can be done to tackle medical bias. These include:

Education: Education is one of the most important tools for combating medical bias. Healthcare providers need to be educated about the different types of bias and how they can impact patient care. They also need to be trained on how to identify and address bias in their own practice.

Awareness: Raising awareness of medical bias is also important. Patients, healthcare providers, and the public need to be aware of the problem and how it can impact their health. This awareness can help to create a culture of accountability and change.

Policy: Policy changes can also help to address medical bias. For example, laws can be passed to prohibit discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, age, body size, and income. These laws can help to ensure that all patients have equal access to quality healthcare.

Advocacy: Patients, healthcare providers, and the public can also advocate for change. They can contact their elected officials and urge them to support policies that address medical bias. They can also support organizations that are working to combat bias in the healthcare system.

Looking at the issue from both patients’ and health-care providers’ perspectives as well as the societal influences that have caused inequities in health care  paints a picture of a healthcare system gone wrong with responsibility falling on insurance companies, government, practitioners, medical schools and even the patients themselves.

Patients’ Perspective

Race and ethnicity: Patients of color are more likely to be misdiagnosed, receive lower quality care, and experience higher rates of preventable death than white patients. For example, black patients with pneumonia are less likely to receive antibiotics than white patients, and black women are more likely to die from childbirth than white women.

Gender identity and sexual orientation: LGBTQ+ patients are also more likely to experience bias in the healthcare system. For example, transgender patients are more likely to be denied care, and gay and bisexual men are more likely to be diagnosed with HIV.

Age: Older adults are also more likely to experience bias in the healthcare system. For example, older adults are more likely to be prescribed unnecessary medications, and they are less likely to receive pain medication when they need it.

Disabilities: People with disabilities are also more likely to experience bias in the healthcare system. For example, people with disabilities are more likely to be denied care, and they are less likely to receive pain medication when they need it.

Obesity: Obese patients are also more likely to experience bias in the healthcare system. For example, obese patients are more likely to be told that their weight is the cause of their health problems, and they are less likely to receive effective treatment.

Healthcare Providers’ Perspective

Race and ethnicity: Healthcare providers may have implicit biases about patients of color, which can lead to differences in the way they are treated. For example, healthcare providers may be more likely to believe that black patients are drug-seeking, and they may be less likely to believe that black patients are in pain.

Gender identity and sexual orientation: Healthcare providers may also have implicit biases about LGBTQ+ patients, which can lead to differences in the way they are treated. For example, healthcare providers may be more likely to believe that transgender patients are mentally ill, and they may be less likely to provide them with gender-affirming care.

Age: Healthcare providers may also have implicit biases about older adults, which can lead to differences in the way they are treated. For example, healthcare providers may be more likely to view older adults as a burden, and they may be less likely to listen to their concerns.

Disabilities: Healthcare providers may also have implicit biases about people with disabilities, which can lead to differences in the way they are treated. For example, healthcare providers may be more likely to view people with disabilities as helpless, and they may be less likely to involve them in decision-making about their care.

Obesity: Healthcare providers may also have implicit biases about obese patients, which can lead to differences in the way they are treated. For example, healthcare providers may be more likely to view obese patients as lazy, and they may be less likely to provide them with effective treatment.

Societal Influences

Racism: Racism is a major societal influence on bias in the healthcare system. Racism can lead to implicit biases in healthcare providers, and it can also lead to disparities in access to care.

Sexism: Sexism is another major societal influence on bias in the healthcare system. Sexism can lead to implicit biases in healthcare providers, and it can also lead to disparities in access to care.

Ageism: Ageism is a third major societal influence on bias in the healthcare system. Ageism can lead to implicit biases in healthcare providers, and it can also lead to disparities in access to care.

Ableism: Ableism is a fourth major societal influence on bias in the healthcare system. Ableism can lead to implicit biases in healthcare providers, and it can also lead to disparities in access to care.

Fatphobia: Fatphobia is a fifth major societal influence on bias in the healthcare system. Fatphobia can lead to implicit biases in healthcare providers, and it can also lead to disparities in access to care.

Increasing Bias Against Science

There is also an increasing bias against science in the healthcare system. This bias can lead to healthcare providers making decisions based on their personal beliefs rather than on scientific evidence. For example, some healthcare providers may refuse to provide care to patients who use complementary or alternative medicine, and they may also refuse to provide care to patients who have chosen to have an abortion.

Patients: Patients who are distrustful of science are more likely to make poor health decisions, such as refusing vaccinations or delaying cancer screenings. This can lead to serious health consequences.

Healthcare providers: Healthcare providers who are distrustful of science may be less likely to recommend evidence-based treatments or to provide patients with accurate information about their health. This can also lead to serious health consequences.

Societal influences: The increasing distrust of science in society can make it more difficult to educate patients about their health and to provide them with the best possible care.

Conclusion

Bias in the healthcare system is a serious problem that can have a devastating impact on patients. It is important to be aware of the different forms of bias that can occur, and it is important to take steps to address this problem. We can all play a role in creating a more equitable healthcare system for all by educating patients, doctors, and administrators alike on how to identify bias – and how we can all do better.