Originally posted 4/13/2023, updated 8/18/2023
1846-1849: The father of modern gynecology, J. Marion Sims, operates on more than 10 enslaved, Black women without anesthesia despite their excruciating pain since he believed Black people didn’t experience pain as White people did. 1932-1979: The Syphilis Study at Tuskegee “treats” 399 African-American men with syphilis and 201 without for “bad blood” without consent. Despite the availability of syphilis treatment, the patients received no effective care, leading to 128 preventable deaths and 59 cases. 2021: Dr. Angela Anderson, a mental health professional, best-selling author, and a Black woman, has her medical concerns dismissed by multiple doctors and treated with hostility. One aggressively jabs a swab up her nose to test for the fatal, notorious disease COVID-19 and states, “You just need to learn how to relax,” after she cries out in pain. Another checks her oxygen with a pulse oximeter, then explains, “Sometimes, they don’t work on colored fingers.”
Racial inequities and disparities have been prevalent throughout history, and persist today.
While it is true that racism has slowly diminished since the 19th century, people of color are incessantly mistreated when it comes to health care, and with the rise of COVID-19, these inequities are especially evident. According to Healthline, Black people are over 3.5x more likely to die from COVID-19 compared to their White peers, the Latinx population is 50% more likely. Similar statistics go for native populations. The leading cause? Racism. Minority groups are less likely to receive proper treatment for diseases, including COVID-19. Paxlovid, an antiviral medication that mitigates the likelihood of developing severe symptoms of COVID-19, has been prescribed to around 33% of white people, yet only 20% for people of color, according to CNN.
To make matters worse, minorities are more likely to have their medical conditions and symptoms downplayed. A Black man named Douglas McClain contracted COVID-19 and was taken to the ER, yet wasn’t seen until hours later. Despite his numerous health complications from COVID-19, nurses sent him home, stating it was simply mild inflammation in his lungs. 4 days later: Pneumonia in both lungs, blood clots, and dropped oxygen levels.
Socioeconomic factors also unjustly correlate to race. According to Census, White U.S. citizens have a median average income of $187,300. Their Black and Hispanic counterparts have an average of $14,100 and $31,700 respectively. Due to these unfair disparities, minority groups do not have access to adequate healthcare, prolonging their minacious medical conditions.
The racism rampant in health care has haunted the United States for centuries. While we may have moved past iniquitous surgeries or detestable medical experiments, racial disparities in health care remain, and they can no longer be ignored. What happened to "liberty and justice for all?"
this is such an important topic that isn’t talked about enough!