Ishikaa Mukherjee, Grade 12
UWCEA (Arusha)
The Hippocratic oath has been considered the gold standard of ethics in medicine since long. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, created an oath that all doctors must swear by to practice medicine. Concerningly, the oath fails to advocate for equal treatment of all. Unfortunately the manifesto makes no mention of equal treatment of all races and genders, an apprehensive issue when keeping in mind that 460 BC racial equality was unheard of.
However, things have changed since then and the original has been re-drafted and modernized. Nevertheless, till this date racial equality is not formally discussed in the oath. This is exceptionally problematic in light of the racism that is currently displayed in various areas of the world. In the US, one of the worlds most ethnically diverse countries, black individuals continue to have higher rates of morbidity and mortality than white persons for most indicators of physical health. Furthermore, infectious diseases account for nearly 10% of the excess mortality rates in Blacks compared with Whites. For example, Afro-American men live 7–8 years less on an average than White American men. Finally, the Association of American Medical colleges found that Black/African American patients were 22% less likely than white patients to receive any pain medication. This suggests that there is inherent racial bias and ethnic disparities in the US, when comparing black to white people. Additionally, Hispanics, and some Asian populations, when compared with Whites, appear to have lower levels of health insurance coverage, with Hispanics facing greater barriers to health insurance than any other group (Institute of Medicine, 2002). Therefore this issue of inequality in the healthcare sector is not just unique to black people but may affect other ethnic minorities in various different ways. Be consistent with capital letters- sometimes whites, then Whites. Which is it?
Especially during a global pandemic, racism in the healthcare sector has become exceptionally apparent. The US president called Covid-19 the “Chinese Virus” on a televised platform which racializes the pandemic against the Chinese, causing disination and prejudice. Furthermore there is a greater Case Fatality Rate amongst the Black American population in the US. Disease Control noted that while Blacks constitute 18% of the population they represent 33% of the COVID-19 hospitalized population.
This racial discimination amongst Covid-19 patients is also prevalent in Europe. The Guardian analysis found that of 12,593 patients who died in hospital up till the 19 April, 19% were Black, Asian and other minority ethnic despite these groups making up only 15% of the general population in the UK. This suggests that there is continuous and evident racial profiling that effects the way people of colour are treated which has beome evident during the Covid-19 pandemic. Is this because of treatment by the health sector? Or due to their socio-economic situations?
Conversely the racism that doctors face on a daily basis has recently become apparent. For example in the NHS harassment or abuse from patients or the public roseby 0.8% from 2016 to 2019 inversely for white staff the number fell by 0.3%. This racism that doctors, nurses and healthcare workers face is a major issue in Europe and regions in the US which is only increasing as globalization and an inflow of immigrant workers occurs.
The lack of equal treatment as well as racism towards healthcare professionals is an escalating issue that has become evident during the pandemic. Healthcare is an essential human right and should not be compromised depending on your race or ethnic background. In addition Healthcare professionals should not be discriminated against or harassed because of their ethnicity. We as a society as well as the human race have very much progressed both in the medical field as well as in social aspects since the times of Hippocrates, we should do better.
However, things have changed since then and the original has been re-drafted and modernized. Nevertheless, till this date racial equality is not formally discussed in the oath. This is exceptionally problematic in light of the racism that is currently displayed in various areas of the world. In the US, one of the worlds most ethnically diverse countries, black individuals continue to have higher rates of morbidity and mortality than white persons for most indicators of physical health. Furthermore, infectious diseases account for nearly 10% of the excess mortality rates in Blacks compared with Whites. For example, Afro-American men live 7–8 years less on an average than White American men. Finally, the Association of American Medical colleges found that Black/African American patients were 22% less likely than white patients to receive any pain medication. This suggests that there is inherent racial bias and ethnic disparities in the US, when comparing black to white people. Additionally, Hispanics, and some Asian populations, when compared with Whites, appear to have lower levels of health insurance coverage, with Hispanics facing greater barriers to health insurance than any other group (Institute of Medicine, 2002). Therefore this issue of inequality in the healthcare sector is not just unique to black people but may affect other ethnic minorities in various different ways. Be consistent with capital letters- sometimes whites, then Whites. Which is it?
Especially during a global pandemic, racism in the healthcare sector has become exceptionally apparent. The US president called Covid-19 the “Chinese Virus” on a televised platform which racializes the pandemic against the Chinese, causing disination and prejudice. Furthermore there is a greater Case Fatality Rate amongst the Black American population in the US. Disease Control noted that while Blacks constitute 18% of the population they represent 33% of the COVID-19 hospitalized population.
This racial discimination amongst Covid-19 patients is also prevalent in Europe. The Guardian analysis found that of 12,593 patients who died in hospital up till the 19 April, 19% were Black, Asian and other minority ethnic despite these groups making up only 15% of the general population in the UK. This suggests that there is continuous and evident racial profiling that effects the way people of colour are treated which has beome evident during the Covid-19 pandemic. Is this because of treatment by the health sector? Or due to their socio-economic situations?
Conversely the racism that doctors face on a daily basis has recently become apparent. For example in the NHS harassment or abuse from patients or the public roseby 0.8% from 2016 to 2019 inversely for white staff the number fell by 0.3%. This racism that doctors, nurses and healthcare workers face is a major issue in Europe and regions in the US which is only increasing as globalization and an inflow of immigrant workers occurs.
The lack of equal treatment as well as racism towards healthcare professionals is an escalating issue that has become evident during the pandemic. Healthcare is an essential human right and should not be compromised depending on your race or ethnic background. In addition Healthcare professionals should not be discriminated against or harassed because of their ethnicity. We as a society as well as the human race have very much progressed both in the medical field as well as in social aspects since the times of Hippocrates, we should do better.
Bibliography
Hippocratic oath: Losing relevance in today's world?
Black–White Differences in Infectious Disease Mortality in the United States
The association of race and COVID-19 mortality
Hippocrates
Most Racially Diverse Countries 2020
Are medical schools turning a blind eye to racism?
Black–White Differences in Infectious Disease Mortality in the United States
Hippocratic oath: Losing relevance in today's world?
Black–White Differences in Infectious Disease Mortality in the United States
The association of race and COVID-19 mortality
Hippocrates
Most Racially Diverse Countries 2020
Are medical schools turning a blind eye to racism?
Black–White Differences in Infectious Disease Mortality in the United States
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