2023-07-13 10:43:39
Lack of Representation in Medical Field Causes Disastrous Consequences for Non-White Populations
In recent news, a concerning issue has come to light regarding the lack of representation in the medical world, particularly for non-white populations. The consequences of this underrepresentation have been disastrous, leading to delayed, incorrect, or even missing diagnoses for black people and people of color.
In her article, writer Laura ter Steege sheds light on this issue focusing specifically on the field of dermatology. She highlights the insights of dermatologist Jim Zeegelaar, who emphasizes the lack of representation in medical textbooks as a significant contributing factor to this problem.
According to Zeegelaar, during medical training, doctors do not receive adequate education on recognizing skin conditions in dark skin. The traditional emphasis on recognizing redness of the skin as an indicator of various conditions proves to be inadequate for darker skin tones. Consequently, doctors often struggle to diagnose skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis in non-white patients.
Zeegelaar emphasizes the importance of expanding the knowledge of doctors and medical students beyond simply recognizing redness of the skin. He explains that inflammation can also manifest itself through heat and swelling, and doctors need to be aware of these additional signs.
Another expert speaking on this issue is Maria van den Muijsenbergh, a general practitioner and professor of health differences. She asserts that the quality of care received by individuals in the Netherlands is influenced by their skin color. She attributes this to a lack of knowledge among doctors about dark skin, as well as acknowledging the presence of racism within the healthcare system.
Muijsenbergh brings attention to a disturbing example of this issue, where doctors assume a Muslim woman does not want prenatal diagnosis and therefore fail to even inquire about her preferences regarding chorionic villus sampling.
However, amidst this concerning situation, there have been some positive developments. Earlier this year, medical books began including a drawing of a black fetus created by a student. This marks a small step forward in addressing the lack of representation and knowledge about diverse populations in healthcare education.
As this issue gains more recognition, the hope is that medical institutions and educational programs take the necessary steps to address the lack of representation and educate healthcare professionals on recognizing and treating conditions in non-white patients accurately. By doing so, we can strive for equitable and quality healthcare for all individuals, regardless of their skin color.
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