Black Man in a White Coat Part II: Barriers

Part II of Black Man in a White Coat touches on the question of how exactly making assumptions can impact the lives of patients. Whether a patient is the one making the assumption or the doctor is the one making assumptions, a patient's life is on the line. Tweedy reminds us that “Doctors, like all other people, are capable of prejudice and discrimination”, however, in the medical field a seemingly small assumption can cost a person their life (151). Certain conclusions can certainly be drawn by being aware of a patient’s age and gender, but why is race always seemingly a necessity in a doctor’s knowledge of their future patient? Tweedy addresses the idea that the “...three-pronged age-rage-gender description…” was the traditional way to describe a patient to the doctor who will be treating them, but points out that we should question whether or not it is even the right way to describe them (135). If doctors, just like any professional, are capable of holding prejudice ideas and jumping to conclusions, then was this traditional description of patients “...automatically [coloring] the way a doctor approached…” their patients before even meeting them face to face (135)? The impact of jumping to conclusions does not stop at a race, but is relevant to a doctor’s ideas about a person's gender and sexual orientation, as well as any preconceived idea about their patient. Directly assuming something about a person based on one visible aspect can be a major source of distrust and discomfort between doctor and patient. The shocking statement made in the beginning of chapter five, exemplifies how patient’s prejudices can impact their own healthcare as well. Even in a life or death matter, prejudice creates yet another hurdle in providing care to a patient.