Study Finds Doctors Harbor Racial Bias

May 4th, 2012 - By madamenoire

Source: Black Voices.com

From BlackVoices.com

The average time most doctors spend with their patients during each visit is just 20 minutes, according to 2009 estimates by the National Center for Health Statistics. And a survey last year by health care consultant group Press Ganey determined that before patients even get in to see a doctor, they’ve waited an average of 23 minutes.

But while health care professionals have offered advice on how to minimize waits and how to make the most of your one-on-one time with a doctor, few have ever addressed a hurdle that many black patients may face — racial bias.

In a study published in a March issue of the American Journal of Public Health, researchers found that two-thirds of doctors harbored “unconscious” racial biases toward patients. When those biases were present, researchers found that doctors tended to dominate conversations with African-American patients, pay less attention to their personal and psychosocial needs and make patients feel less involved in making decisions about their health.

“It’s been really extensively shown that minorities don’t receive the same quality of health care as whites in the United States,” said Lisa A. Cooper, M.D., M.P.H., a professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and lead author of the study. “I’ve been interested in the extent to which that is accounted for by the fact that a lot of minorities see physicians who are different from them culturally and racially, and that there might be some problems with cultural misunderstandings or miscommunication.”

Get the rest of the story and learn what you can do to fight this mistreatment  at Black Voices.com. 

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  • http://twitter.com/slotchmusic ms_spittuh

    My dad is a cancer patient with stage 4 prostate cancer in an ICU right now. They assigned him a doctor from Pakistan. I am no prophet but I get bad vibes and I can feel things. First time I saw her, she didn’t speak, and she frowned when she saw him. He is in desperate need of care and she doesn’t even like touching him. My mother and I see it. When she passes by my mother and I, she will quickly turn her head and walk that way until we are completely out of her site. Our first meeting “when are you putting him in hospice?” but when she has white patients, she stays in their room(s) for a very long time. Turns out my vibe was right – she killed a black woman by pulling all her tubing out two weeks ago. I have no proof to prove it but she was caught by multiple blacks. I have been looking for an oncologist for my dad because he is still bleeding. She keeps trying to make the case manager “talk to the family about his hospice” but the case manager pulled me aside and suggested that we get rid of her and do not get an Arabic man/woman over him. We have never had luck with Middle Eastern doctors. I have no clue what the problem is, but they can be just as “black” in hue if not “blacker” that my father. They are people of color as well. But this s**t needs to stop! My father is an innocent, helpless man who needs help. He is no criminal.

  • HansiCabo

    When one goes to see a doctor, it is imperative that she advocates for herself, more so if you are a black woman. One must always be informed and if you are not…..then GET informed!  I always ask questions about my healthcare and treatment.  If the doctor is not forthcoming, that’s the last time I will be seeing him/her. Luckily I’ve been really lucky in having good medical care as a military vet.  Doctors usually will treat you with respect if they see that you are informed and they can’t pull the wool over your eyes.

    As for the women stating that they NEVER go or rarely go to the Doctor, that’s simply ignorant. You are the only one who is in control of your health and like anything else, it requires regular upkeep and maintenance to remain in good working order.  Get thee to a Doctor or other medical professional on a regular basis.  It’s only common sense to protect your investment properly….your body!

  • Kitsy

    Does anyone know of a [legitimate] database where we can search for black physicians, or other physicians of color? I would definitely select a reputable black doctor over a white one if given a choice.

    • Gimmeabreak78

      You can visit www dot theblackmarket dot com/blackdrs.htm.

  • BlackNGreen

    I speed going to a particular OB-GYN because he tried to force Paraguard on me after I had my baby. My only child and he talked to me in threatening tones saying, ” if you don’t get this, you WILL get pregnant again.” I left that doctor and went to another where i’m much happier and they respect me.

  • Post-Op

     I went to and artrial fib. seminar with a white doctor who said my ekg was normal for my age after his nurse told me to show him the irregularities. Fortunately for me, I had my procedure last week the physician and his assistant were non-white.

  • L-Boogie

    Shocker.  

  • guest

    I had an irregular pap and being young and never having a irregular pap test before I asked the doctor questions and she told me “Maybe you should think about settling down and having a few kids.” I was like whattttttttttttt????? Hung up the phone and never went back. Ended up in the ER a few months later and they told me that I should follow up with my primary care doctor and when I told them I didnt have one and why they almost fell on the floor and the Nurse (a nice white lady) found me a new one the next day and I have been seeing her for the last 3.5 years. Some doctors talk to blacks like they dont understand things. Investigate and seek other opinions before your decide things, and that goes for everyone whites blacks etc

  • honeybomb10

    Yes I was groped by a male doctor during a breast exam another tried to deny me birth control for not other reason than i was old (i was 25 at the time). A female doctor was said that she was shocked that my vajajay was so clean because usually women like me came in with bad ones or some nonsense. 

    • Roni

      What?! That’s just crazy. I don’t know what I would have done if a doctor spoke to me like that. I don’t recall having any racist encounters with doctors but that’s because I just don’t go. I would have to be beyond ill to see a doctor.

  • Candacey Doris

    We already knew this. It’s not jut white doctors either. It’s indian doctors and asian ones too.  I went with a frien in college to a doctor when she got laryngitis. We waited half an hour while other walk ins were called in first and then she insisted on running her insurance first. Meanwhile the trashiest looking white woman with a bump on her hand got taken in. It’s not right and it happens all the time.

  • Doll Kennedy

    Is it just race or is it how much money you are paying. I would assume that poor blacks would be treated worse because they are not paying as much. 

  • Doll Kennedy

    Is it just race or is it how much money you are paying. I would assume that poor blacks would be treated worse because they are not paying as much. 

    • Gimmeabreak78

      Though money does have a lot to do with what type of health care you receive, the New England Journal of medicine found that even black patients with money were not treated as well as white patients.  The Journal found that black patients were more likely to have unecessary surgeries recommended.  For example, it was noted that doctors were more likely to prescribe medication to control moderate to severe cases of diabetes for white patients, while recommending amputation surgeries for black patients.  When asked why, many doctors just assumed that the black patients were less likely to adhere to a treatment regimen than white people, so the amputations were just fast-forwarding to an inevitable conclusion for the doctors.  Never mind the fact that your quality of life is diminished if you are missing a leg or a foot.

    • Gimmeabreak78

      Though money does have a lot to do with what type of health care you receive, the New England Journal of medicine found that even black patients with money were not treated as well as white patients.  The Journal found that black patients were more likely to have unecessary surgeries recommended.  For example, it was noted that doctors were more likely to prescribe medication to control moderate to severe cases of diabetes for white patients, while recommending amputation surgeries for black patients.  When asked why, many doctors just assumed that the black patients were less likely to adhere to a treatment regimen than white people, so the amputations were just fast-forwarding to an inevitable conclusion for the doctors.  Never mind the fact that your quality of life is diminished if you are missing a leg or a foot.

    • LadyLark

      I thought that at first as well. But from my personal experience (as well as those of others I personally know) money is not a factor typically (maybe on a case by case basis but not generally). The general concensus is disrespect, dislike and lack of concern for Black patients paying the same way and the same amount as their White patients.

  • Gimmeabreak78

    My sister and my friend (both black women) are in the medical field.  My sister is a nurse practitioner and my friend is an OBGYN.  Both women say that when they did their roations in nursing and medical school, respectively, it was alarming to see the disrespect with which black patients were treated.  My sister has since focused on patient advocacy, making sure that black patients know they have the right to make decisions about their own health care and question their health care providers if they are making decisions the patients are not comfortable with. 

    It’s very important that patients know that a doctor is just a doctor and not a god.  If you don’t feel comfortable with the level or the type of care you are receiving, it is your right as a patient to speak up and be heard. 

  • Gimmeabreak78

    My sister and my friend (both black women) are in the medical field.  My sister is a nurse practitioner and my friend is an OBGYN.  Both women say that when they did their roations in nursing and medical school, respectively, it was alarming to see the disrespect with which black patients were treated.  My sister has since focused on patient advocacy, making sure that black patients know they have the right to make decisions about their own health care and question their health care providers if they are making decisions the patients are not comfortable with. 

    It’s very important that patients know that a doctor is just a doctor and not a god.  If you don’t feel comfortable with the level or the type of care you are receiving, it is your right as a patient to speak up and be heard. 

    • LadyLark

      To whom?

      • Gimmeabreak78

        I can’t be sure, but I think you are asking me who a patient can talk to if she feels she is being mistreated by a health care professional.  It’s important to arm yourself with research BEFORE your next visit to the docotr.  One way to do that find out what the standard of care/treatment is for your particular ailment.  For example, if your doctor reccommends surgery, find out if that is the FIRST treatment option for your condition.  Most doctors will tell you that surgery should only be done as a last resort.  If your doctor’s recommended path of treatment differs from the standard path of treatment, don’t be afraid to ask him why he thinks this is a better option than noninvasive methods.  Secondly, don’t be afaid to get a second opinion.  Thirdly, you can always complain to your state medical board.  They have the power to severly curtail or eliminate your doctor’s right to practice medicine if enough fishy practices are found.

        • Ladybug94

          I can only think of 1 time where it seemed like the doctor was brushing me off and that was a black doctor unfortunately.  That was my first and last time seeing her.

        • Mls2698

          I totally agree with you. I once worked at a urology office where the Dr. gave a diagnosis of possible testicular cancer based on lab results to a young black male. They don’t perform testicular biopsies because of possibly spreading the cancer. They removed the patient’s testicle only to find that he was cancer free. I couldn’t understand why this young guy, his mother, and his girlfriend ( they were all present at his appt) didn’t get a second opinion. Some blacks just take what a Dr. says as golden without asking questions. When the patient returned for his two-week check up, he was limping through the office..

      • Ksolotis

         To which ever board that issues the license to that MD or Nurse. You can always talk to the manager, administrator. KEEP records of everything that you say, so let it all be in writing. Also, you can contact the ombudsmen for the area or facility. You have people on your side. Just remember, KEEP records of every time you communicate.

  • J A SASSY aka salon22w

    who didnt know that.. whites always treat blacks different even the police when its a blk and white situation and the blk person is in the right.. you can see they are more apt to take the white persons side.. how bias is that? if you are right you are right .. color shouldnt matter.

  • J A SASSY aka salon22w

    who didnt know that.. whites always treat blacks different even the police when its a blk and white situation and the blk person is in the right.. you can see they are more apt to take the white persons side.. how bias is that? if you are right you are right .. color shouldnt matter.

    • http://www.facebook.com/RosarioRed Rosario Stefania Scarsci

       Exactly. They’re all disgusting. I hate doctors which is why I do not go unless there’s an emergency.

      • LadyLark

        I haven’t been to a doctor myself in a couple of years because of the EXACT things mentioned in this article. I pay out of pocket $80 a visit and they DO NOT CARE about why I’m there. I’m just dropping off my money, that’s why I don’t bother anymore.

    • http://www.facebook.com/RosarioRed Rosario Stefania Scarsci

       Exactly. They’re all disgusting. I hate doctors which is why I do not go unless there’s an emergency.

    • LadyLark

      Yup you can call the cops yourself for help and they come in talking crazy and acting like they want to shoot you. This world has got to end soon.