All articles tagged with #medical bias
A BuzzFeed feature compiles firsthand accounts from women who say male doctors frequently dismissed their symptoms, delaying diagnoses and care—from ruptured appendixes misattributed to period pain to late cancer detection—highlighting ongoing gender bias in healthcare.
Jackie Garcia's five-year journey to diagnose a large tumor highlights the challenges faced by women of color and plus-size women in healthcare, emphasizing the importance of self-advocacy and addressing unconscious biases to ensure timely diagnosis and treatment.
The Apgar test, which assesses newborns on five metrics including skin color, often results in lower scores for Black infants and other babies of color, potentially leading to unnecessary medical treatments. Experts are calling for changes to the test, arguing that skin tone is a subjective and discriminatory measure that should not be part of a health evaluation.
Patients of color suffering from long Covid face significant challenges, including medical neglect and bias, which exacerbate their conditions and hinder proper diagnosis and treatment. Despite the widespread impact of long Covid across various communities, systemic issues such as language barriers, economic disparities, and racial biases in healthcare contribute to inadequate care and support for these patients. Efforts to address these disparities are ongoing but have yet to achieve equitable representation and treatment for all affected groups.
In "A Body Made of Glass: A Cultural History of Hypochondria," journalist Caroline Crampton explores her own hypochondria and its cultural context, tracing the shifting boundaries between hypochondria and verifiable sickness. She delves into the biases and challenges faced by hypochondriacs, the impact of chronic and autoimmune conditions, and the evolving understanding of illness. Crampton's book combines memoir, literary criticism, and historical micro-histories, offering fascinating insights into the human condition and the universal fear of mortality.
Gigi Campos, 35, shares her experience of having a heart attack at 34, despite being young and healthy. She experienced chest pressure during a morning walk, but medical professionals initially dismissed her symptoms. After multiple tests, she was found to have a dangerously high troponin level and underwent emergency procedures to clear blocked arteries. Campos emphasizes the importance of advocating for oneself, especially for women with cardiac issues, and urges others to know their risk factors and persist in seeking medical attention if something feels off.
Diane Talbert, who has lived with psoriatic disease for decades, faced challenges in getting a proper diagnosis and treatment due to medical bias and lack of representation of skin conditions on people of color in medical textbooks. Now an advocate for health equity, she is working to improve care for people of color with psoriatic disease, partnering with organizations and sharing her story to raise awareness and provide support for others facing similar struggles.
Younger women are being diagnosed with lung cancer at higher rates than men, according to a study published in JAMA Oncology. While the disparity is small, researchers are concerned and are actively investigating the reasons behind this gender disparity. The prevalence of smoking and occupational exposures does not fully explain the higher incidence in women. The study suggests intensifying smoking cessation efforts among younger and middle-aged women and encouraging lung cancer screening for eligible women. Medical bias may also play a role in delayed diagnosis and treatment for women.
A Dallas-area newborn, Mila Jackson, will be returned to her parents after being taken by Child Protective Services for 23 days. The case drew national media attention and sparked conversations about the disproportionate impact of the child welfare system on Black families and the long history of medical bias against Black midwives. The parents chose to work with their licensed midwife to treat a common infant condition rather than following a directive from their pediatrician to take her to the hospital. Advocates working with the family said that while they are happy to see this outcome, damage has already been done.