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Healthcare Inequality In The United States

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Introduction: What is the effect of racism on healthcare inequality in the United States? Healthcare in the United States has always been a contentious issue. A good healthcare system is necessary for a society to function properly, but how to best implement it has been a subject for debate. Yet for many Americans, the main problem with healthcare in the United States intersects with another institutional problem: institutional racism. Like all other institutions in the US, implicit and explicit racism has always been a part of the healthcare system. Professionals in the healthcare system often treat African Americans and other minorities unequally and provide lower quality treatment that results in worse healthcare outcomes when compared to White …show more content…
I propose that the causal link is decreased trust in healthcare providers. Because minorities expect to be (and often are) discriminated against, minorities will not trust healthcare professionals. Going to the doctor is a stressful experience for minorities who expect mistreatment, discrimination, or apathy from healthcare providers. For many, avoiding this stress means avoiding engaging with the healthcare system. They would be less likely to appear for physicals, go to the doctor when sick, choose elective surgeries, or consult doctors about suggestions for medications. If they do go, they are less likely to listen to what the professional will say. They may refuse to take suggested medications or vaccines or ignore guidelines about lifestyle choices from professionals. They may defer testing or treatment for preventable diseases or refuse referrals from doctors. As a result of avoiding the healthcare system because of perceived racism, minorities would suffer from higher rates of disease and illness when compared to Whites. The result would be a significantly higher mortality rate when controlling for other factors such as age, socioeconomic status, and

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