Clinical uncertainty and healthcare disparities

The Institute of Medicine Report, Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities , affirms in its first finding: “Racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare exist and, because they are associated with worse outcomes in many cases, are unacceptable.” The mechanisms that generate racial...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of law & medicine 2003-06, Vol.29 (2-3), p.203-219
Main Authors: Balsa, Ana I, Seiler, Naomi, McGuire, Thomas G, Bloche, M Gregg
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bias
Bioethics
Continental Population Groups
Cost Control
Delivery of Health Care
Ethnic Groups
Health aspects
Health care
Humans
Insurance, Health - economics
Insurance, Health - trends
Managed Care Programs - economics
Medical care
Medical care (Private)
Medical ethics
Minorities
Minority Groups
Parity
Patient Care
Physician patient relationships
Prejudice
Social aspects
Stereotyping
Uncertainty
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Summary:The Institute of Medicine Report, Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities , affirms in its first finding: “Racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare exist and, because they are associated with worse outcomes in many cases, are unacceptable.” The mechanisms that generate racial and ethnic disparities in medical care operate at the levels of the healthcare system and the clinical encounter. Research demonstrates the role of healthcare system factors, including differences in insurance coverage and other determinants of healthcare access, in producing disparities. Research also shows, however, that even when insurance status and other measures of access are controlled for by statistical methods, racial and ethnic disparities persist. These disparities remain when researchers try by various methods to control for patients’ clinical characteristics. Disparities are especially well documented through comparisons between white patients and African Americans and Latinos, but they are believed to affect other minority groups. As a result, many members of minority racial and ethnic groups receive less or inferior care.
ISSN:0098-8588
2375-835X
DOI:10.1017/s0098858800002811