Addressing the Role of Racism in the Health of Black Americans 

The quality of care that Black Americans experience is also vastly different to what white Americans might experience. Implicit bias is rampant in the healthcare system, which can have dangerous implications. One in particular is the bias that black Americans have a higher pain tolerance, a misconception that was born from slavery. As their pains and concerns are not taken seriously, this can mean that a serious issue and the pain they experience can go untreated. 

Furthermore, the quality of treatment can be much poorer. A study in the USA revealed that black patients with heart disease were more likely to receive older, cheaper and more conservative treatments than their white counterparts. They were also more likely to be discharged earlier from the hospital, before it was safe for them to leave. A recent survey has shown that 56% reported they had at least one negative experience when seeking care, where either they had to speak up to get proper care or were treated with less respect than other patients. 

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