Doctors' Group Plans Apology For Racism

[chibaba]

By Holly Watt
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, July 10, 2008; Page A01

The country's largest medical association is set to issue a formal apology today for its historical antipathy toward African American doctors, expressing regret for a litany of transgressions, including barring black physicians from its ranks for decades and remaining silent during battles on landmark legislation to end racial discrimination.

The apology marks one of the rare times a major national organization has expressed contrition for its role in the segregation and discrimination that black people have experienced in the United States.

In a commentary in the July 16 Journal of the American Medical Association, Ronald M. Davis, the organization's immediate past president, noted that many of the organization's questionable actions reflected the "social mores and racial discrimination" that existed for much of the country's history. But, he wrote, that should not excuse them.

"The medical profession, which is based on a boundless respect for human life, had an obligation to lead society away from disrespect of so many lives," Davis wrote. "The AMA failed to do so and has apologized for that failure."

AMA officials declined yesterday to discuss specifics of the apology, including how it came about, saying that information would be released today. But the Davis article refers to a committee of experts convened and supported by the organization to examine "the historic roots of the black-white divide in U.S. medicine."

Specifically, the panel noted that the AMA permitted state and local medical associations to exclude black physicians, effectively barring these doctors from the national organization. In the early 20th century, the organization listed black doctors as "colored" in its national physician directory. In addition, the AMA was silent during debates over the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964, and, for years, declined to join efforts to force hospitals built with federal funds to not discriminate.

Richard Allen Williams, a clinical professor of medicine at the University of California at Los Angeles and the president of the Minority Health Institute, said the apology is "an excellent gesture of goodwill."

"I applaud the AMA for doing this. In the current climate of health care, it is a very timely gesture," he said. "Less than 5 percent of physicians are African Americans, and that needs to be changed. This cannot be changed by African American physicians alone, and we all need to move forward together."

Otis W. Brawley, chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society and a member of the National Medical Association, a predominantly black medical association that was established in 1895 in response to the AMA policy allowing the exclusion of African American physicians, welcomed the apology.

"Any sort of acknowledgment that blacks were excluded is a positive step," Brawley said. "But I'm much more interested in the future than in the past. I would like to see a focus on getting quality care for all people."


washingtonpost.com

[Samoon]

Originally Posted by chibaba

By Holly Watt
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, July 10, 2008; Page A01

The country's largest medical association is set to issue a formal apology today for its historical antipathy toward African American doctors, expressing regret for a litany of transgressions, including barring black physicians from its ranks for decades and remaining silent during battles on landmark legislation to end racial discrimination.

The apology marks one of the rare times a major national organization has expressed contrition for its role in the segregation and discrimination that black people have experienced in the United States.

In a commentary in the July 16 Journal of the American Medical Association, Ronald M. Davis, the organization's immediate past president, noted that many of the organization's questionable actions reflected the "social mores and racial discrimination" that existed for much of the country's history. But, he wrote, that should not excuse them.

"The medical profession, which is based on a boundless respect for human life, had an obligation to lead society away from disrespect of so many lives," Davis wrote. "The AMA failed to do so and has apologized for that failure."

AMA officials declined yesterday to discuss specifics of the apology, including how it came about, saying that information would be released today. But the Davis article refers to a committee of experts convened and supported by the organization to examine "the historic roots of the black-white divide in U.S. medicine."

Specifically, the panel noted that the AMA permitted state and local medical associations to exclude black physicians, effectively barring these doctors from the national organization. In the early 20th century, the organization listed black doctors as "colored" in its national physician directory. In addition, the AMA was silent during debates over the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964, and, for years, declined to join efforts to force hospitals built with federal funds to not discriminate.

Richard Allen Williams, a clinical professor of medicine at the University of California at Los Angeles and the president of the Minority Health Institute, said the apology is "an excellent gesture of goodwill."

"I applaud the AMA for doing this. In the current climate of health care, it is a very timely gesture," he said. "Less than 5 percent of physicians are African Americans, and that needs to be changed. This cannot be changed by African American physicians alone, and we all need to move forward together."

Otis W. Brawley, chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society and a member of the National Medical Association, a predominantly black medical association that was established in 1895 in response to the AMA policy allowing the exclusion of African American physicians, welcomed the apology.

"Any sort of acknowledgment that blacks were excluded is a positive step," Brawley said. "But I'm much more interested in the future than in the past. I would like to see a focus on getting quality care for all people."


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I would like to see....

The "ol' boy net-work CEASE." Many PROMISING minorities don't stand a chance when so and so's pop just donated a wing. Where do you think the donor's kid is going?

The perception STOPPED that Blacks and Latinos have "drug-seeking behaviors" more than any other ethnic group.

That "cursory" exams cease. That more OPTIONS are offered to people of color in terms of alternative medicine to fully DISCUSSING what options maybe available to them and then following up on them with their patients.

That stereotypical attitudes CEASE in assuming that all African-American women are either the mother or the grandmother when accompanying a parent and their child to a doctor's appointment---no lie, this scenario happened to ME. I was so appalled (and angry) when the clinician (without looking at me) greeted me with, "Okay grandmother, so what is the problem with baby today?" Being that I am a former health-care provider myself, I instantly took note that (1) vital signs were not on the chart for my nephew---they had been recorded on the sheet of the guerney, (2) the physician had not washed his hands and I HEARD him as he was giving directives leaving the exam room prior to the one that we were in. I very icily "corrected" him and followed up with a complaint to the Administration. He DID realize his error--that I wasn't that old...oh gee, now you can look at my FACE up HERE.

Public apologies run a dime a dozen. Please. Don Imus, how many times has be apologized for racially insensitive remarks? After awhile, you gotta think...he's giving lip service and that he really does NOT mean it. And he does not.

Keep the jury OUT on this one I'd state.....until the proof shows up in the pudding. All, be well.