How bias in healthcare harms Black patients | Kendal Beasley | TEDxMoreauCatholicHS

TL;DR

A black woman shares her lifelong struggle with sickle cell pain and highlights racial bias in medical treatment.

Transcript

it was the summer of 2023 my family extended family and all was headed to Hawaii to celebrate my grandma's 70th birthday my mind was focused on the beaches I would lay on and the sand that would move between my feet it was a 2E vacation and I was beyond excited 60 minutes into the 5-Hour flight I felt a throbbing sensation in my back it was a pulsi... Read More

Key Insights

• 😪 Sickle cell disease causes excruciating pain episodes due to misshapen red blood cells.
• 🎁 Historical mistreatment of black individuals in medical experimentation influences present-day biases.
• 🖤 Racial bias results in undertreatment of pain for black Americans, worsening their healthcare experiences.
• 😷 Education on implicit biases and increasing diversity in healthcare can improve medical treatment for black patients.
• 🥺 Accessible and affordable healthcare can lead to more accurate diagnosis and treatment for communities of color.
• 😷 Speaking up about disparities in medical treatment can lead to a future of hope and equality in healthcare.
• 👨‍🎨 Empathy, understanding, and trust between patients and healthcare providers are crucial for effective treatment of sickle cell pain.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does sickle cell disease impact the lives of those diagnosed?

Sickle cell disease causes red blood cells to form a sickle shape, leading to pain crises that feel like being stabbed with knives or glass.

Q: What historical mistreatment towards black patients influences current medical biases?

Enslaved individuals were experimented on for medical advancements, perpetuating the belief that black people feel less pain than white individuals.

Q: How does racial bias affect pain treatment for black patients today?

Studies show that black Americans are often undertreated for pain, leading to negative healthcare experiences and unjust assumptions about pain medication misuse.

Q: What changes can improve medical treatment for black patients with sickle cell disease?

Education on implicit biases, diverse healthcare providers, and accessible healthcare can help bridge the gap in accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Vacation turned medical emergency due to sickle cell pain crisis.

• Sickle cell disease affects red blood cells, leading to excruciating pain episodes.

• Racial bias in pain treatment towards black Americans contributes to medical injustices.