Today in class we discussed the article, "Pocahontas Goes to the Clinic" by Cheryl Mattingly. One of the ideas the article explores is that there still exists stereotyping problems in the healthcare system which dictate what depth of care patients receive. The power struggle between race, language, culture and class is what exists in health care everyday. This struggle can exist between doctors and patients as well as between nurses and patients. Mattingly argued that people of minority races or lower incomes do not receive the same health care as those who do not fall into these categories. She claimed that health care professionals treat those who have a higher income, or are of cultural preference, get better quality medical attention than those who don't. This could simply mean better information, more options, medication provided, services offered, etc. We also discussed how health care professionals use "code names" to describe people who are perceived to not "deserve" better health care. These names are generally given to those with lower incomes or minority status. This enables the staff to communicate about patients in front of others without the public understanding what they are talking about. This use of "code names" or "group names" supports the idea that health care professionals do not treat all patients equally. If there was equality for all patients these "names" would not be needed at all.
A couple years ago a video had spread all over the news about a Jamaican woman who lived in New York. She was found dead on the ER floor of King County Hospital after being left there to die for six hours. There is video footage of the woman going into extreme pain and falling to the floor. While she is on the floor multiple security guards checked on her, however, none of them did anything to save her. Also, no nurses responded to the medical calls to the desk about the event. Everyone who saw her simply left her on the floor and didn't assist her. Because she had waited so long for medical attention she ended up dying as a result of the neglect. The following is a link to the video footage and the news commentary that followed the event:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybOJUujKxPg&feature=related
This event could have been avoided if the woman was given immediate medical attention when she first fell to the floor. Since she was ignored and left to die this supports Mattingly's theory that racial inequality still does exist in the health care system. Had the woman possibly been of a different race she may have been saved.
Interesting post, Jess. This video is seriously freightening. I can’t believe this women didn’t receive any help within in the hospital.
ReplyDeleteIn addition to inequality in the health care system, Mattingly also explains how doctors use Disney to connect with patients. Like you said, code switching can be used to point out inqualities, but doctors also use code switching to relate to multiple audiences and make their patients fee comfortable.
When I read about these events occurring in class, I never think they are false, but seeing actual footage of such horror occurring truly makes clarifies it for me on an entirely higher level. In an instance such as this video, there should be no racial profiling or boundaries for such an extreme emergency. It is not only unethical, but a disgrace to today's society. This further proves Mattingly's argument that people of minority races or lower incomes do not receive the same health care as those who do not fall into categories of upper class. Hopefully, this would be a lesson to all hospitals and medical professionals, but I would not put it past anyone. Race should not be an issue in situations such as these and it is a tragedy that a result such as this, occurred because of stereotyping and "code names".
ReplyDeleteWow, I am legitimately speechless after watching that news report. I think your article response coupled with that news broadcast did a great job in exemplifying Mattingly's ideas and arguments. What is especially haunting about that video is that the patient did not go unnoticed, but rather, untreated and that was the reason for her death. It is appalling to see how much attention she garnered without any response other than a kick from a nurse that led to them finally putting her onto a gurney. Although it was hard to watch, I think it is important to realize that these things are still happening and that stereotypes and prejudice still exist in settings that we take for granted. I had never given much thought to doctors being prejudiced about patients since it is simply their profession to treat and not judge, but clearly this is an issue that needs to be addressed and solved immediately. It is very unsettling that we live in a world where people would be refused the best medical care available just because of their social or economic status.
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