Racial Bias in Pain and medical treatment for African Americans

The Washington Post article
“The disturbing reason some African American patients may be undertreated for pain”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2016/04/04/do-blacks-feel-less-pain-than-whites-their-doctors-may-think-so/?utm_term=.e44ab301b8df

Summary of Washington Post Article
This Washington Post article focuses on the disparaging fact that African-Americans are misdiagnosed because of inaccurate beliefs among Doctors. In this article provides evidence of statistical research by the University of Virginia. Their findings concluded that students, as well as resident doctors who have completed programs with specialized training, have bizarre assumptions of African-Americans biological composition in contrast to Caucasians. An example of such stereotypical claims made by student and resident doctors has 58% question the composition of a Black person skin saying it was thicker than a white person’s. Two separate studies conducted by Emory University in 2000 and 2007 concluded that African-American patients were not prescribed proper pain medication for their symptoms as their white counterparts were. These misleading diagnosis on the part of doctors as well as bizarre stereotypes held by students and practicing physicians dispels a mindset of withdrawn compassion for African-Americans and their physical ailments and treatment. The Washington Post presents this information in an unbiased manner, their claim bazaar as they sound, are backed by the research from Emory University and the research conducted by the University of Virginia on its students and resident doctor faculty. The unanswered question one is left with after reading such an article is why are doctors making medical determinations for human beings with their race or ethnicity as part of the determining factor for diagnosis based on unfounded beliefs?

A peer-reviewed study by University of Virginia the article is based on Racial Bias in Pain http://m.pnas.org/content/113/16/4296.full.pdf

Summary of “Racial Bias” research article by The University of Virginia
The University of Virginia conducted this peer journal article. It conveys a racial bias in the medical community that suggests your ethnicity and racial background is a good barometer for determining the quality of care an individual can receive. The peer journal article proposes that physicians are misdiagnosing African-American patients due to their misconception of unfounded beliefs related to African-Americans biologi-cal composition. The research suggests physicians mindset on African-Americans pain tolerance is not confounded in racist beliefs. To prove this they conducted research using 2 different study groups. The 1st study group their perception of African-Americans pain measured. Researchers also wanted to detect any association with certain beliefs such as African-Americans having thicker skin than whites, in conjunction with inadequate care received by black people. The research in study1 suggests that there is a racial bias for measuring African-American pain tolerance among whites without medical training. The 2nd study was comprised of medical practitioners who were tasked with the diagnosis of a mock white patient and mock black patient. The 2nd study’s finding showed 50% of doctors held false beliefs about Black people’s biological composition compared to 73% in the 1st study who held bias beliefs about Black's pain tolerance and biological composition. This peer journal article has compiled a wealth of evidence that suggests the research was done in a scholarly academic manner, this gives justification for its utility to educate medical practitioners to reassess their thoughts and mindset on how they treat and diagnose African-American patients. After analyzing the article, one begs the question of are medical students being properly trained on the biological composition of all humans when they’re in medical school, and if they are properly trained then where are they conjuring up these beliefs of African-Americans pain tolerance and biological composition?

My personal feelings on both articles.

It's very disheartening to know that highly trained white physicians actually have inaccurate beliefs about black people’s tolerate pain and bio composition. It also has let me think about my own personal experience with white physicians if they possibly gave me inadequate care due to my ethnicity. The peer journal article suggests that these misconceptions can be associated with a foundation set by 20th-century research conducted by the military and the US Public health service, for example, the use of syphilis to test its effects on African-Americans at Tuskegee Institute. Contrary to this assertion made by the article, I believe that these misconceptions of African-American bio composition and pain tolerance were manifested from the practice of eugenics in the medical community.
It’s very troubling for myself as an African and American to know that academically trained white physicians are improperly measuring African-Americans pain which leads to an inadequate treatment. I also believe there is a socioeconomic component to why White physicians are not likely to suggest African-American patients seek additional healthcare due to their belief patients will incur economic restraints
Two apparent differences between the two articles are how the two pieces are put together. The Washington Post article used statistics from research done by the University of Virginia, but they did not divulge into the intricacies of the studies and how the statistics were developed. They also used quotes from those initiating the research at the University of Virginia to provide insight into their evidence and findings. The peer journal article, on the other hand, was comprised of two studies, one that uses licensed medical practitioners, and the other using those who were laymen. The evidence provided by these two sample groups in the peer review journal article gives a better insight to a belief system that is surprisingly just as prevalent in the medical community as it was among those who have no medical experience. This would make me question the mindset of the white community where did these beliefs manifest themselves? It also makes me question whether white physicians even see African-American patients as human. To my knowledge, there is no medical findings or research that suggests that the biological composition of any human is different based upon their ethnic or racial background. If governmental institutions have a history of subjecting African-Americans to this type of treatment, then surely they will be withdrawn compassion and recognition of African-Americans as human beings.