Introduction
Rebecca Skloot, the author of “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,” set out to write a biography for a specific audience: Henrietta Lacks. Her story is about how she became ill and, unbeknownst to her, revolutionized the medical field. Henrietta Lacks, a low-income African-American tobacco farmer, was previously known only by the initials HeLa (Skloot, 2011). HeLa cells, derived from Henrietta Lacks, were the first to proliferate and survive indefinitely in the laboratory.
Racism is an issue that people should confront in the modern world. It remains a problem in one of the most important fields of study and practice in the contemporary world: medicine. In the medical sector, racism has harmed everyone, from patients to doctors, even if it is less apparent than in other areas of society.
The Issue in the Book
Racism pushed black people to a lower social and economic level. Since African Americans were taught not to question white authority, white doctors routinely collected cells from them when they visited the hospital. Henrietta was in pain as she felt a knot forming inside her; she went to Johns Hopkins to see her doctor (Skloot, 2011). Cancerous and healthy cells were extracted from her cervix and given to cancer researcher George Otto Gey, who tried to keep the cells alive for a few days. Her cells were extracted and used against her will in experiments, and she was not given a full explanation of the potential side effects of her therapy due to her race.
Despite undergoing extensive radium treatments, Henrietta died at the age of 31. Her husband and five children survived her. The incredible discovery was made that Henrietta’s cells are immortal (Skloot, 2011). This book is full of examples of racism, ranging from the inaccessibility of medical care to doctors’ unethical behavior to the effects of racism on Henrietta’s family.
People of color faced a severe shortage of accessible medical services during this historical period. Even fewer hospitals were willing to treat people with low incomes, so Henrietta was in a unique situation. Johns Hopkins was the only local hospital that accepted black patients and provided free care.
Racism in Healthcare
Persistent racism, as it is in other institutions, is a significant impediment to providing egalitarian and responsive healthcare. Evidence from various studies confirms the healthcare system’s inequitable nature, with disparities visible in several key areas such as diabetes treatment, mental wellness, maternity care, preventative vaccinations, hospice care, cardiology care, and pain management. People of color are frequently stereotyped as less deserving of medical attention and receiving lower-quality care than the majority population.
Patients from racial minorities who report bigotry and a lack of empathy often report poor care (Hamed et al., 2022). Patients who have been subjected to racism are more likely to harbor negative attitudes toward healthcare providers, to be dissatisfied with their treatment, and to believe that the quality of their care is subpar. Racism’s persistence, as well as the harm it causes to minorities’ economic security and physical well-being, is unjust and must be addressed.
Racial discrimination taints many countries’ healthcare systems, including the United States. As a result, people of color face higher health risks and, in some cases, poorer quality care from medical professionals. Access to medical treatment is crucial for maintaining one’s health. During Henrietta’s lifetime, healthcare was scarce due to the legalized racial segregation of the Jim Crow era. Some hospitals turned away Black patients who were near death due to racism.
Henrietta chose to attend Johns Hopkins (Skloot, 2011). Despite the hospital’s segregated facilities, patients of all races were accepted. Because of this issue, people in rural areas, who have disproportionately low incomes, have difficulty accessing jobs, healthcare, and education. As a result, people avoid going to hospitals for treatment because they cannot cope with the stress. As a result, not only is that person’s life in jeopardy, but the lives of those around them are also at risk if the illness is contagious.
Nursing’s Critical Role in Combating Racism
Nurses should be aware of the limitations of unconscious prejudice and discriminatory practices to deliver exceptional patient care and reduce healthcare disparities. Nurses should actively seek out and advocate for nursing practices that use inclusive tactics and foster an environment of politeness and mutual respect among nurses, patients, and the public (Hamed et al., 2022). Many codes in the nursing profession outline guidelines for addressing ethical issues related to racism in healthcare.
One way for nurses to put this idea into practice is to address racism in the healthcare setting. Nursing ethics also requires professionals to be cautious and knowledgeable when caring for patients. Nurses can enhance public trust in the medical field by treating all patients with equal respect, regardless of their race.
How Nurse Educators Can Combat Racism
Racial, systemic, and institutional inequities incorporated into nursing training programs and schools significantly impact the profession because of their far-reaching effects on graduating and non-graduating students, the nursing workforce, potential nurse educators, and the nation’s health and well-being. Nurse educators should research America’s racial history to better foster learning environments that value respect for everyone and provide equal patient care (Emami & de Castro, 2021). Before making decisions about teaching and learning methods, all nurse educators must examine their social position and the underlying assumptions that may contribute to the perpetuation of oppression and subtle discrimination. Recognizing that environments lacking such policies may struggle to maintain high-quality, efficient, successful, and safe medical practices, nurse educators must assess policies to ensure inclusion, civility, and mutual respect.
Nurse educators are responsible for increasing workforce diversity by developing teaching strategies that appeal to and retain learners from diverse demographics. When more people from various backgrounds work as nurses in the United States, the population will begin to reflect that diversity. Nurse educators should incorporate equitable treatment concepts into their curricula in ways that go beyond raising students’ awareness and encourage them to take constructive action (Emami & de Castro, 2021). Despite using transformative pedagogical approaches in nursing, the literature has been critical of the field for ignoring cultural concerns. Equality in health care in nursing education fosters inclusive classrooms by addressing issues of racism and bias and the needs of all students.
Conclusion
Racism poses challenges that individuals ought to address within contemporary society. Racism has been an issue in the medical field for a long time. Racism has had detrimental effects on various medical stakeholders, encompassing patients and physicians, albeit with a relatively subdued manifestation compared to other societal domains. Henrietta experienced discomfort and noticed the development of a palpable mass within her body, prompting her to seek medical attention at Johns Hopkins Hospital. The subject’s cellular material was involuntarily obtained and utilized in experimental procedures without her consent.
Additionally, she was deprived of comprehensive disclosure regarding the potential adverse consequences of her therapeutic intervention, which can be attributed to her racial background. The book contains numerous instances of racism, encompassing aspects such as the limited availability of medical services, the unscrupulous conduct of physicians, and the repercussions of racism. Nurses should understand the barriers posed by implicit bias and unconscious discriminatory practices that hinder the delivery of exceptional patient care and the addressing of healthcare disparities. Nurse educators should research the United States’ racial history to cultivate inclusive learning environments and ensure equitable patient care.
References
Emami, A., & de Castro, B. (2021). Confronting racism in nursing. Nursing Outlook, 69(5), 714-716.
Hamed, S., Bradby, H., Ahlberg, B. M., & Thapar-Björkert, S. (2022). Racism in healthcare: A scoping review. BMC Public Health, 22(1), 1-22.
Skloot, R. (2011). The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Crown.