Unequal outcomes are observed for different ethnicities in Norway’s public health service. In order to address this, we need to confront our own prejudices first.
This editorial in a medical journal titled “Black skin is thicker than white” thoughtfully examines the persistent racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare, focusing on Norway’s immigrant communities. The article highlights the higher stillbirth and neonatal death rates among immigrant groups and critiques the systemic biases within the healthcare system, particularly regarding pain management and treatment for black and immigrant patients.
The author traces these inequalities back to historical misconceptions about race, which continue to influence healthcare practices today. The editorial calls for confronting implicit biases among healthcare professionals and urges a shift toward evidence-based, equitable care that transcends outdated racial assumptions.
It emphasizes the need for greater awareness of these biases and encourages the medical community to adapt their approach to better meet the needs of diverse patients. The piece concludes by advocating for systemic change to reduce inequality in healthcare outcomes, challenging healthcare providers to examine and address their own prejudices.
To foster deeper reflection and institutional change, I pose the following questions are to medical professionals:
How do you address potential cultural misunderstandings when treating patients from diverse ethnic backgrounds?
How do you justify the higher rates of stillbirths and neonatal deaths among immigrant groups in Norway, despite controlling for factors like education and age?
Do you believe implicit bias plays any role in the disparities in pain management or treatment for patients of different ethnicities?
Can you acknowledge that your assumptions about a patient’s pain or needs might be influenced by their ethnicity?
How do you reconcile historical medical practices that dehumanized and mistreated people of color with your own current practices?
What steps do you believe are necessary for addressing and overcoming racial prejudices in healthcare?
Have you ever questioned the assumptions embedded in medical training or practice that may perpetuate inequality for minority groups?
How do you think healthcare could improve if doctors, particularly in multicultural societies, had better awareness of their own biases and their potential impact on patient care?
What role do you believe healthcare institutions should play in training staff to recognize and challenge biases in their everyday practice?
Can you reflect on how different cultural backgrounds may shape a patient’s health needs or experience, and how you might adapt your approach accordingly?
Do you think that providing equal treatment for all patients is enough, or should healthcare go a step further to ensure fairness in outcome?