A visit to the doctor is not the same for everyone. Healthcare in the U.S. is a broken system, plagued by patterns of bias. From unconscious prejudice based on one’s identity to the use of discriminatory practices, the American healthcare system is in desperate need of reform.

One of the most prevalent forms of implicit bias manifests as a result of race. Studies have found that African American, Hispanic, and Indigenous patients often receive worse treatment than their white counterparts, with these groups experiencing delayed treatment and skepticism towards expressed pain levels. For example, one study found that even when suffering from identical symptoms, African Americans are less likely to be prescribed pain medication than white patients.

Additionally, biases are displayed regarding gender, age, and sexuality, as well. One study found that over 80% of medical students exhibited implicit prejudice against those in the LGBTQIA+ community. Unfortunately, the LGBTQIA+ community is an especially vulnerable group at higher risk for mental illness and less likely to seek medical services. Research shows that women are also more likely to be dismissed for their pain, due to stereotypes that women are overly sensitive in comparison to men, who are perceived as tough. For instance, cardiac heart disease is often misdiagnosed as stress or anxiety for women more than men. 

“Around 8 years old, my youngest daughter Eva was going through episodes of very severe pain. After getting a referral, we met with a neurologist for help, but he felt there was nothing he could do. He didn’t take my concerns seriously and assumed I was just a paranoid woman/tired mom with too much on her plate,” said longtime Arcadia resident Mrs. Sheri Bermejo. “However, when I sent my husband to see him and voice my concerns, the issues were addressed. Eva began having seizures soon after this experience and needed treatment.”

Bias also exists in response to an individual’s weight. Those who are overweight or obese may be presumed to be unwilling to comply with treatment plans. On a systemic level, bias surrounding weight can be found in a system of measurement called Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI attempts to assess one’s health by dividing one’s weight by their height and placing that numerical result in a rigid, labeled category. Each category places the individual at a certain risk level for diseases like diabetes and heart disease. 

However, BMI is flawed in that it fails to account for other factors like race, muscle mass, and sex. For example, at the same BMI, Asian people are twice as likely to have type 2 diabetes than white individuals. BMI is an imperfect tool. It encourages the harmful notion that one’s weight is a clear indicator of how healthy someone is. It allows for stigmas surrounding people who are overweight or obese and labels certain people as more “unhealthy” than they are. Tools like BMI need to be reassessed and updated to accommodate all walks of life. Surely it can be used as a reference or loose indicator for certain individuals’ health, but it simply doesn’t work for everybody. Some potential alternatives to BMI would be waist-to-hip ratio and Body Fat Measurement, which are more accurate and specific at calculating the impact of fat on one’s health.

Stereotypes have no place in healthcare and should be appropriately addressed. Access to proper resources and additional training about bias should be required by law in the medical field. Healthcare workers must be taught about this prevalent issue with historical facts, statistics, patient stories, and other information. Physicians should also be appropriately monitored for patterns of prejudice. Employers should request feedback from patients about their visits and treatment. They should be reprimanded accordingly if such patterns arise, with increased training requirements. Diversity and inclusion should also be promoted in the workplace so that patients’ specific needs can be better met; greater representation means both greater knowledge, as well as valuable insight on how to address inequity.

Perhaps with more education and awareness, unfair medical treatment can be reduced, and the specific needs of our diverse population can be better met. Regardless of race, gender, age, or sexual orientation, identity should not prevent someone from wanting to seek care or put them at risk of being denied care.

Ultimately, the effects of bias on healthcare are harmful and damaging for the many patients that experience it. This issue should be further acknowledged and studied, with efforts properly funded by the federal government to help combat this problem. Bias isn’t something that can be solved overnight, and it surely can’t be eradicated, but it is possible to work to improve the systemic inequity within these outdated institutions. Everyone deserves access to adequate healthcare, no matter who they are. 

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