Race-Based Medicine and Healthcare Disparities

Race-based medicine takes many forms, including the incorporation of someone’s race when deciding which medication to prescribe for high blood pressure, or when estimating how well a person’s kidneys are functioning. Race-based medicine incorrectly assumes that race is determined by a person’s biology. In other words, it assumes that people’s bodies are inherently different from one another because of their race. When race is used in medical decision making, patient care might be delayed or otherwise harmful or inadequate. People of color, especially Black people, are most adversely affected by this practice. An example of this is Black people being added to kidney transplant lists later, and staying on the list longer prior to receiving a kidney. Please see our resources list below for more information.