Ever since, society has been forced to grapple with what it means to relegate someone to the back of the bus based on race, and what to do about it. Indeed, progress has been made to ensure equal treatment regardless of skin color or ethnic origin. Yet it is foolish to pretend that many Americans aren't still stuck in the back of the bus due to discrimination. The settings differ, the ways are more subtle and less often intentional. But to victims it is no less damaging.
Health care is no exception.
In December, the AMA House of Delegates voted to maintain a standard of zero tolerance for racially or culturally based disparities in care. It is one of 11 recommendations adopted to help mobilize America's physicians to fight whatever vestiges of discrimination they encounter. The Board of Trustees report that carried the recommendations cited disturbing evidence of how our health care system continues to be tainted by bias. Commonwealth Fund research from last year revealed that close to a third of minority adults 64 and younger have no health insurance. That's more than twice the rate of white adults.