Examples Of Racism In Healthcare

Racism in the healthcare service.

Disparities in healthcare on the basis of race have not received attention as unethical, against morals of society. Racism in healthcare must be addressed not only on moral grounds but also as a legal, social, political and economic issue seen to affect all spheres of the victims. Unequal treatment of patients for other reasons other than clinical needs and preferences is a highlight of the definition of terms related to race, ethnicity and disparities then an analysis of practical situations that illustrate differences in healthcare provision particularly those related to racial affiliations.

Racial discrimination in healthcare provision accounts for health disparities in society. Race is a term used to

This belief leads people to treat some races as superior and others as minorities thus bringing a difference on how people are treated within the society. Racism has been known to affect many spheres of the society affecting religion, education, political and economic sectors. The effects have been dire, with the minority group which is discriminated against experiencing alienation within the society they rightfully belong, patient nondiscrimination is not only an ethical in the medical field but is also the professional responsibility of the medical officer to provide quality and timely medical attention to all patients regardless of their race. This is a law provided by the constitution of the land and the Deontological Codes. Currently there are many medically ethical issues varying from abortion to euthanasia, but few have looked at patient racial discrimination in healthcare provision and how this affects its

Minority races have in the past been known to experience a heavier burden in diseases, have had problems in accessing healthcare and related social services. Research has explained this trend to the Socio economic status of these groups but recent research, however, indicates that racial discrimination in healthcare can be used to explain the health disparities we have in the society. According to the Institute of Medicine’s on the Unequal Treatment Report, disparities are all differences on healthcare services and care except those caused by patient clinical needs and preferences. These disparities whether brought about by socioeconomic differences, ignorance or even racial/ethnic affiliation have been known to have dire consequences on the patients’ health. Racial health disparities are, therefore, any differences in the provision on how patients are treated because they belong to a social or economically minority group.

Racial discrimination is not only on the actual provision of health care, medication, therapy and treatments involved in diagnoses, curative and preventative measures but also in communication with patients. In many instances, medical practitioners have been known to choose for patients medical procedures without the patients’ knowledge of the available options with the assumption that because of their economic