Discrimination in health care has become an increasingly problematic issue between doctors and their patients. Medical bias can present in numerous ways, including how providers communicate, what they do to address patient symptoms and how doctors describe patient interactions. Research has found that bias can often lead to substandard care.
David Confer, a bicyclist and an audio technician, told his doctor he "used to be Ph.D. level" during a 2019 appointment in Washington, D.C. Confer, then 50, was speaking figuratively: He was experiencing brain fog a symptom of his liver problems. But did his doctor take him seriously? Now, after his death, Confer's partner, Cate Cohen, doesn't think so.
Clinicians open their notes to patients in grand experiment in medical care statnews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from statnews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Doctors now must provide patients their health data, online and on demand
Last summer, Anna Ramsey suffered a flare-up of juvenile dermatomyositis, a rare autoimmune condition, posing a terrifying prospect for the Los Angeles resident: She might have to undergo chemotherapy, further compromising her immune system during a pandemic.
After an agonizing three-day wait, the results of a blood test came back in her online patient portal but she didn’t understand them. As hours passed, Ramsey bit her nails and paced. The next day, she gave in and emailed her doctor, who responded with an explanation and a plan.