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Benefits And Disadvantages Of Race-Based Medicine

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Race is a social construct that categorizes individuals based on physical characteristics.
Characteristics can include skin color, hair texture, and facial features. Racial classifications are not consistent; an individual who may be categorized as Black in one area of the world could be defined as White in another. An individual self-reports their race therefore, it is fluid in nature. For example, an individual can identify with one race at the beginning of their lifespan but can identify with another over time as they have new experiences. Therefore, race is not measurable. There is no specific amount of melanin that biologically differentiates an individual from being Black or White. Furthermore, an individual’s race is also not defined by their ethnicity. Thus, …show more content…

They are personalized to consumers of a particular race. It is founded on the assumption that there are biological differences between races. The most well-known race-based medication is BilDil. BilDil is a pill for heart failure marketed specifically to African Americans.
Advantages
Although there are not biological differences amongst races, there are trends amongst races. According to the CDC, “African Americans ages eighteen to forty-nine are two times likely to die from heart disease than whites” (CDC, n.d.). Trends such as this allow healthcare professionals to identify possible risk factors. Race-based medicine also can help identify racial disparities. Focusing in on race also allows communities to see how race can affect factors that in turn affect health. This can include lifestyle factors, increased incidence of risk factors, life expectancy, and number of individuals insured.
Disadvantages
Race-based medicine seeks to personalize and market medication to a particular race. Since race is a social construct based on phenotypic traits it has no scientific

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