Racism, or prejudice and discrimination based on a person’s race, is severely detrimental to every facet of society, including the social, economic, political and cultural spheres. In particular, its impact on healthcare should be noted. Generally, the presence of racism in the medical sphere affects not only the relationship between the a professional and their patient, but also the quality of care people receive and the severity of their outcomes. Firstly, racism coming from a healthcare professionals makes it more likely for them to mistreat a patient, either on purpose or accidentally. An inability to consider another person as an equal and as a human being in need of proper support leads many medical workers to overlook their patient’s health complaints or perform operations in a way that can be detrimental to a patient’s wellbeing. Additionally, racism can influence the course of diagnosis, contributing to biased results and incorrect judgements. As noted by research, people of color are systematically subject to worsened health outcomes, as a result of a number of factors, including racism in the healthcare sphere (Imhoff, 2020).
As a systematic and historical issue, racism also has a large influence on people’s health. Minority groups, in particular black and Hispanic people, have historically been unable to receive the sufficient level of care and support from the medical community, in some cases even resulting in medical mistreatment and inhumane acts. The trend has resulted in certain groups of people being disproportionally affected by health problems, and in an increased distrust towards the medical community. Both of these conclusions stem primarily from the racism of the past and the injustices experienced by people based on their race. The discrepancy in standing, living conditions and opportunities given to people of color contributes to worsened health outcomes.
References
Imhoff, J. (2020). Health inequality actually is a “black and White Issue”, research says. Health & Wellness Topics, Health Tips & Disease Prevention.