Summary of aritcle 3 for MWP3

In her article “Disparities in the provision of medical care: an outcome in search of an explanation,” author Elizabeth A. Klonoff explores the reasons for the differences in health care among different ethnic groups as well as providing many examples that prove the differences in health care. Klonoff reviews pieces of literature and breaks down some of the differences in the treatments of some care problems like cardiovascular disease, pain, surgery and cancer treatment. She provides a plethora of statistics and likeliness of a group to react to a situation. For example the author writes, “Several studies are consistent in finding that African–American patients are less likely to be judged as appropriate for transplantation, are less likely to appear on transplantation waiting lists, and are less likely to undergo transplantation procedures, even after patients’ insurance status and other factors are considered.’’ This fact shows that an African American is denied more health care than a Caucasian person. Their chances of getting the necessary surgery are less likely and hence they are more likely to sufferer the consequences. The author continues her article by describing studies conducted where doctors prescribed different treatments for African Americans and Caucasians with the same ailments. This shows that though a doctor may not admit to discriminating, that discrimination still exists. The article also discusses how if a patient does not feel comfortable and welcomed by the health care provider they are less likely to follow through on treatments and go back for other ailments. One of the final big problems addressed is health insurance. The author claims that though lack of health insurance plays a big role in amount of health care a person gets, there is still levels of segregation. For example the author writes, “Access to inferior health care is obviously a factor in most health disparities. However, in this instance the problem may be more complicated. First, most of the more recent articles have controlled for socioeconomic status, hospital population, or some other measure of health care quality, and have identified healthcare disparities even after controlling for these variables.” This shows that the lack of health insurance may be rooted in discriminatory policies as opposed to amount of money someone can pay for health insurance. This article clearly outlines and details the problems and factors of the problems in the health care regarding discrimination based on race. After reading this one can come to better understand how sever and deep rooted the discrimination is.