IMPLICIT BIAS IN HEALTHCARE

As humans, it’s in our nature to judge the things that surround us. It is a natural instinct designed to protect us from harm and even help develop who we are as people. We make unconscious choices at least a hundred times a day. For instance, when looking at your inner circle of friends, everyone may look very similar to you, though you might not have noticed it before. Or your past partners may carry similar features and you think to yourself, “that’s just my type.”

However, there comes a point where these unconscious decisions and biases can harm those around you and your opinion of them. According to Ohio State University, the term “implicit bias” refers to the attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions and decisions in an unconscious manner. These biases harbor deep within one’s subconscious and are often difficult to pinpoint when looking at them from your personal perspective.

Particularly within the healthcare system, implicit bias is a serious issue that targets marginalized communities. It is important to remember that every patient may have a different experience simply based on their identities. When discussing specific identities and experiences, it is important to recognize the unconscious biases faced against the Black community within the healthcare systems. In regards to the Black community, a debunked and harmful belief within healthcare is that Black patients are incapable of feeling pain, or feel less pain when compared to other races. This deception dates back to the 19th century, when racist research done on enslaved African Americans cemented false ideas, such as Black people have thicker skin and fewer nerve endings. These unfounded claims continue to harm Black patients within modern healthcare.

found that half of the medical students surveyed still believed these ideas today. These ongoing racist beliefs and disparities in treatment for Black patients represent a challenge for 21st century medicine. In 2019, New York health regulators opened an investigation against UnitedHealth Group after researchers found an algorithm that led to a lower quality of care for Black patients. The algorithm signaled to medical providers that Black patients’ care would cost less which equated their illnesses to not being as serious as the patients deemed it to be.

According to ProPublica, the United States holds the highest maternal mortality rate in the developed world. On average, Black women in the United States are three to four times more likely to die during childbirth when compared to white women. A likely factor within this statistic is that white healthcare professionals are less likely to believe Black women when they express concerns about their health.

It is important to note that all doctors are humans with their own identities, experiences and biases. However, they hold immense responsibility when making decisions with vital consequences for their patients. While these implicit biases and medical stereotypes are ingrained into mindsets, with the right education and a commitment to unlearning one’s own racial prejudices, we can move towards combating these harmful biases as a whole.

This issue of bias within the United States healthcare system is complex and stems from the systemic oppression that has existed for hundreds of years. But change is needed and it begins with representation and diversity. Being able to have more doctors of color could improve the experience of patients of color, as doctors and patients are able to share the same experiences with one another. Another step is education and bias training.

It is important to remember that implicit biases are malleable. Although they can last a lifetime, one’s thoughts and beliefs can change. It is important to educate yourself on where biases may exist around you and work towards correcting the racial stereotypes within the healthcare system that harm the lives of people of color.