Medical law fights mindset on minorities
Thursday, March 24, 2005

By Anne B. Jolis
ajolis@sjnewsco.com

STRATFORD — When white people are diagnosed with diabetes, their doctors tend to prescribe a healthier lifestyle. When black people are diagnosed with the same disease, their doctors hospitalize them.

According to state Sen. Wayne Bryant, this discrepancy happens in about 75 percent of diabetes cases. He said the health care industry is riddled with similar racial, cultural and ethnic inequalities.

On Wednesday, Bryant looked on as Acting Gov. Richard Codey signed Bill S-144 into law at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ). The bill mandates that all physicians in the state submit to cultural competency training. It applies both to physicians still in training and those who have already received their licenses.

Cultural sensitivy training.

For doctors.

I just can’t stand it anymore.

Source: NJ.com via Tonguetied