The Healthcare Paradox: When identity supersedes care

People from marginalized groups have continued to relentlessly receive treatment that is either detrimental or neglectful in nature. In “Racism and Social Determinants of Psychosis, M. Anglin stresses the need to address the discrimination of minorities, particularly within healthcare. Even in today’s time, there is a huge discrepancy between the quality of healthcare received by minorities versus white individuals. Given such circumstances, it is necessary to combat the pervasive and regressive biases against someone’s perceived background. It is imperative to understand that institutionalized discrimination has completely warped the concept of healthcare for the people in the United States and how its effects have been echoed throughout generations. 

The most prominent rationale behind the lack of equality in healthcare is prejudice against the backgrounds of certain individuals. This bias can be implicitly or explicitly expressed. As Anglin poignantly stated, “I was just a hysterical Black woman who must be on drugs, was not taken seriously, and did not need to go to the hospital. My PhD, neuropsychological training, and pleas that I was experiencing right visual neglect did not matter” (278). This illustrates how Anglin’s serious medical condition was met with flippancy. Thus, revealing a troubling dismissal of her genuine health concerns. Despite her qualifications and expertise, she encountered biases that overshadowed her legitimate health issues, emphasizing that preconceived notions can significantly impair the quality of care individuals receive. The significance of this moment lies in its very bleak and unfortunate representation of how systemic racism and gender biases can undermine an individual’s credibility and even lead to a misdiagnosis. The further away someone is from perceived whiteness, the more stereotypes they are exposed to. Most importantly, it urges people to confront these biases within healthcare systems to address broader health disparities effectively.

The disparities in the prescription of second-generation antipsychotics reveal a troubling pattern in healthcare access, particularly for Black individuals. Black people were not provided the same window of opportunity to obtain newly formulated antipsychotics. Black people with schizophrenia were 76% less likely than their white counterparts to receive treatment and six times less likely in academic research clinical settings (qtd Anglin 281). The stark difference in numbers sheds light on the inequitable access to potentially life-changing treatments, emphasizing how racial biases in treatment decisions hinder proper allocation of medications to those in need. If such biases were eliminated, marginalized groups would have greater access to necessary medications, improving overall health outcomes. The most pressing issue about these circumstances is that the problem is not the shortage in medication. Instead, the reach of systemic racism is so vast that doling out medication to everyone who needs it seems like an insurmountable task. It is a flagrant violation of everything the healthcare system supposedly stands for and accentuates the inconsistency regarding access and treatment. 

Premature aging in Black populations reveals a profound connection between systemic racial discrimination and health outcomes. Anglin refers to Carter et al. (2021), who reviewed a number of studies that found that Black individuals, including youth, chronically experience racial discrimination and show cellular and epigenetic indicators of premature aging (290). This suggests that the stressors of racial discrimination profoundly affect the human body at a cellular level, demonstrating that the impacts of racism extend far beyond social and economic factors. This is a clear example of how structural racism not only shapes social conditions but also manifests in measurable health consequences. This emphasizes the urgency of addressing racial discrimination as a root cause of health disparities. Racial discrimination, along with socioeconomic and environmental factors, shapes the daily experiences of marginalized groups and results in tangible health disparities. There is a critical need for a deeper understanding of health inequities that considers the biological ramifications of ongoing racial stressors. 

Institutionalized racism is an insidious force that is slowly corroding a healthcare system that is already relatively substandard for those who are not privileged. Improving treatment access is crucial, as illustrated by the dismissal of legitimate health concerns, the gap in antipsychotic prescriptions, and the significant physiological changes that can be triggered by racial discrimination. Addressing these systemic issues is vital for achieving true equity in healthcare for all individuals, regardless of their background. People must begin to modify practices and initiate new research methods so that they can also cater to individuals who have been divested of the most rudimentary resources. This will ensure that the influence of deleterious biases is curtailed and that people from all groups are being provided the care that they rightfully deserve.

Works Cited 

Anglin, Deidre M. “Racism and Social Determinants of Psychosis.” Annu Rev Clin Psychol, vol. 19, no. 1, 2023, pp. 277–302, https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-080921-074730.