Do you ever feel like your doctor’s treatments don’t quite hit the mark? You get sick, go to the hospital, are prescribed medication said to be a working wonder, only to find yourself back at square one? For many Black women, this isn’t just a fleeting experience; it’s a persistent nightmare.
But what if I told you that the root of this problem isn’t just personal bad luck? What if it’s a systematic issue deeply rooted in outdated medical assumptions often overlooked by most practitioners?
Race-based prescribing—categorizing patients by race to determine treatment—is one such flawed assumption. Contrary to popular belief, this approach is not a shortcut to better health care. In fact, studies reveal that it actually leads to serious health disparities for Black individuals, particularly Black women.
Below, we delve into the shocking truth about race-based prescribing and its devastating impact on you as a Black woman in America.
What’s Race-Based Prescribing, and Why Is It a Problem?
Race-based prescribing is when doctors adjust medication based on a patient’s race. The practice is based on the flawed assumption that there are inherent biological differences between racial groups that affect drug metabolism and response.
Rather than treat individuals, especially Black women, based on their unique biological variations and specific health needs, race-based prescribing oversimplifies complex issues and puts you in a box that you might not necessarily fit.
Why Is This a Problem?
Well, according to research published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, race-based prescribing frequently leads to mis-prescriptions that don’t align with the diverse health profile within racial categories.
And what’s terrifying is that Black people, and especially Black women, are the most affected by this practice. Data from the American Medical Association shows that 30% of Black women in the U.S. alone are more likely to receive incorrect dosages and treatments compared to their white counterparts.
Further research shows that Black women prescribed medication based on race-based guidelines face a 30% increased risk of severe side effects. This is particularly alarming, especially when we consider the specific health challenges faced by Black women, such as higher blood pressure and hypertension rates.
In fact, a 2023 study published in the Journal of Hypertension showed that Black women receiving race-based hypertension treatments had a 40% higher risk of experiencing adverse effects compared to those receiving personalized treatment.
This means that a practice “intended to help” is actually causing more harm than good.
Just the other day, @Dr. BCW, a respected maternal health expert and family-medicine physician, took to TikTok to express her anger over how the system expects providers to prescribe high blood pressure medication, especially to Black patients.
“You’ve never had this before because no one is talking about it…. our current medical system recommends clinicians follow a protocol to treat high blood pressure. Sadly… this protocol limits the opportunity for patients [Black patients] to have access to all of the medications on the market based solely on the color of her skin,” the frustrated physician said in the now-viral video.
“It’s a little complicated,” she continued. “But basically, because she’s Black, the protocol limits her to two medications when there are many, many more available to White patients.”
@dr_bcw Nothing boils my blood more than how our system expects providers to prescribe high blood pressure medications. #doctor #hypertension #healthequity #patientstory #healthadvocate #highbloodpressure ♬ original sound – Dr. BCW
Her sentiments were echoed by medical student Joel Bervell, referred to as the ‘Medical Myth Buster’ on Instagram, who questioned the efficacy of these race-based prescriptions, especially because “high blood pressure varies amongst Black Americans vs. Africans vs. Black people from different countries. Yet the U.S. medical care system uses the same first-line treatment to manage all Black patients.
The fact that in the age of advanced medical research, such disparities still exist is mind-boggling. But where do we go from here? How can we shift the healthcare landscape to prioritize personalized care for all?
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The Way Forward
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The answer lies in a more nuanced approach to healthcare.
As Bervell puts it, we need to implement a more personalized approach to medicine, emphasizing the importance of considering factors such as individual health history, lifestyle, and medication adherence (which have been shown to yield better health outcomes than blanket race-based prescriptions).
Hypertension, for instance, isn’t a one-size-fits-all condition, especially among Black women. Research consistently shows that we experience the disease differently, necessitating tailored treatment plans.
As a Black woman, you must also be vocal about your health and needs. While we might want the system to change, it’ll take time.
So, you need to be proactive.
Ask your healthcare provider about the rationale behind your prescribed treatments. Inquire if some alternative medications or treatments might be more suitable for your specific health needs. And please don’t hesitate to seek a second opinion if something doesn’t feel right.
Furthermore, raising awareness about these issues can lead to systemic changes. Supporting organizations fighting for healthcare equity and participating in clinical trials can help ensure that future treatments are developed with a diverse population.
Remember, healthcare equity isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a necessity. By advocating for personalized care and pushing back against race-based prescribing, we can start to see real changes. This means not only better health outcomes for Black women but also a healthcare system that truly serves everyone.
