Disparities in Healthcare: Does Everyone Receive the Same Standard of Care?

The Institute of Medicine’s Report on Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial/Ethical Disparities in Health Care states that cultural bias is one contributor to racial and ethnic minorities having higher rates of poor health outcomes than Whites in the case of disease; even when income, employment

When considering the American medical system, it is clear that the policy solutions for disparities occurring outside the clinical encounter

Since the publication of the Institute of Medicine’s “Unequal Treatment Report” in 2002, highlighting the startling but harsh truths behind these health care differences, there has been a renewed interest in understanding the sources of these inconsistencies, with any seeking to identify contributing factors in hopes of creating an effective solution in reducing or eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in health care

In today’s society, there are many different factors that can contribute to one’s overall health and well-being. Since there are so many different factors that can affect one’s health, there are inequalities that exist among people and this is knows as health disparity. "Health disparities are differences in the incidence, prevalence, mortality, and burden of diseases and other adverse health conditions that exist among specific population groups in the United States” (Nhlbi.nih.gov, 2015). Health disparities can be associated with factors such as: socioeconomic status, education, gender, race, ethnicity, age, mental health, and religion. There are certain health problems that can affect different groups more than others, such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and HIV/AIDS (Surgeongeneral.gov, 2015). One example of a specific population in the United States that is affected by health disparities is the African American Population. While African Americans are affected by various health disparities, one that affects this population more prominently is heart disease.

Many factors contribute to differing racial and ethnic health needs, including culture norms, religious mandates, and health disparities. The health disparities refers to specific differences in disease incidence, health outcomes, quality of health care and access to health care services that exist across racial and ethnic groups (Mandal, 2014). Disparities may result from inadequate access to care, poor quality of care, cultural issues and social determinants.

Health disparities endure tenacious issues in the United States of America, setting certain groups at higher risk of being uninsured, limited access to care, facing a poorer quality of care, and overall negative health outcomes. The high incidence of health disparities reflects the range of individual, social, economic, racial/ethnic and environmental magnitudes. Among the minority groups, African-Americans disproportionately access health care and the health disparities clearly glow in the nationwide.

She never wanted to see the doctor nor undergo any of the treatments that they first offered her because she didn’t trust in the system. This could either have been due to low economic status in her family or her racial determinants. Community public health was affected by somatic cell fusion, which was the formation of two cells of different diseases. They felt that these scientists were going to create “monsters” or odd creations. On a national level public health was affected when the ethical standard came into play of if it was right to use cells of another human for research. Not only was that particular study with Henrietta’s cells controversial but another that dealt with changing the DNA of some of her cells to infect them with HIV was not well liked either. This did help with the fight against AIDS but activists saw this as immoral and irresponsible. Public Health has affected several parts of the story of Henrietta Lacks and continues to be a prominent part of findings that stemmed from her

One of the government’s first step in reducing the disparities in the system is the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). It is the comprehensive healthcare program with three primary goals such as making affordable health insurance, expanding the Medicaid program, and supporting innovative medical care delivery strategies (HealthCare.gov, n.d.). For this reason, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) offers the promise of decreasing the disparities in medicine and health through promoting access to more efficient and equitable health care. However, in order to totally reduce racial and ethnic disparities in the healthcare system, policy makers, managers, and researchers should work hand in hand to acquire valid and reliable data on the race and ethnicity of every

Terminating the medical care inequalities gap is a problematic, multifaceted task. A study that surveyed 14 racial and ethnic minority subgroups determined that health inequalities could be constricted by providing minorities with better health care coverage, more adequate language skills and assistance, and higher incomes. However, the authors noted that other important factors such as biases, uncertainty in the provision of medical care, and stereotyping would also need to be covered. Ending the disparity gap is not only ethically and professionally imperative, it remains an obvious civil rights inequality that must be addressed. Since the 1990s, federal government, health insurers, and other stakeholders have taken an increased interest in addressing health care inequalities among Hispanics groups. For instance, the Healthy People 2010 initiative highlighted the elimination of racial and ethnic health disparities as a prominent public health goal for the next

Henrietta Lacks was a young African American woman. Doctors experimented on her in order to form the HeLa cells, which was an immortal cell line, obtained from her body, and used in scientific research. She was born in Roanoke, Virginia, and known by the name of Loretta Pleasant. When her mother died, she changed her name to Henrietta Lacks, and was sent to live with her grandfather in an old slave quarters. She roomed with her cousin, Day Lacks, who later fathered her two children, Lawrence and Elsie.

While there is no clear definition of what health disparities are, Healthy People 2020 defines them as “differences that occur by gender, race or ethnicity, education or income, disability, geographic location, or sexual orientation” (Adler, 2008). Health disparities are not determined by solely biological differences, but rather more attributed to the environment surrounding a person. The public health industry is so concerned about racial health disparities that stem from the social environment

Henrietta Lacks was an ordinary women, nothing too extraordinary. However, on the day she walked into John Hopkins, the entire world changed. Let us be reminded that this was during the 1950’s, so there was still the colored and white sides of the hospital. However, Hopkins was still one of the top hospitals in the country, and colored people were not excluded from that. Henrietta went in for a gynecological appointment, when she learned she had cervical cancer. However, this was not the only thing that happened at the appointment. Dr. Howard Jones, without permission, took a biopsy of Henrietta’s tumor and sent samples to his laboratory colleagues. From there, Dr. TeLinde became involved. He was trying to find a cure

One of the points raised in IOM’s article to prove that racism is a prevalent cause of health care disparity is the way the health care system is set-up, meaning at times, some hospitals and clinics can adopt a policy to contain health care cost, but may pose hindrances to minority patients’ capability to access the care.

Moreover, the lack of access to health care is morally wrong because it is a fundamental right for humans to maintain self-dignity, fairness in the dispensing of health care, and the inclusion of all in society. Kantian’s ethical theory would argue that it is a moral duty to distribute health care more evenly so that the disadvantaged members of society have a similar chance at access to care. The consequence of those health disparities among the disadvantaged affects everyone’s quality of care and affects communities’ adversely. As a result, the cost shift from annual emergency room visits by the uninsured cost the public over $100,000 billion annually and as a result, distributes approximately an additional $1000 to each family’s insurance premium (Lachman, 2012)). Another example of distribution injustice is the unfair allocation of health care among race and gender. Studies have shown that there is a racial and gender bias in end stage renal failure patients, there is a disproportionate number of white males referred to transplant specialists as opposed to blacks and women. Additionally, their wait on the transplant list is longer, if they ever make it onto the waiting list (Beauchamp, 2013).

Changes in access to health care across different populations are the chief reason for current disparities in health care provision. These changes occur for several reasons, and some of the main factors that contribute to the problem in the United States are: Lack of health insurance – Several racial, ethnic, socioeconomic and other minority groups lack adequate health insurance coverage in comparison with people who can afford healthcare insurance. The majority of these individuals are likely to put off health care or go without the necessary healthcare and medication that is needed. Lack of financial resources – Lack of accessibility to funding is a barrier to health care for a lot of people living in the United States