A psychiatric resident at Yale University argued that medical professionals should wear body cameras because life-and-death decisions made by health care workers unfairly impact black people through racism.

Dr. Amanda Calhoun, Age 28, claimed An editorial in The Boston Globe argued that medical professionals should wear body cameras to hold doctors and nurses accountable for alleged racist behavior toward black patients. calhounA Yale University Resident Fellow and Co-Vice Chair of the Senate Diversity Council, she is “working to reduce the impact of racism on patients and society at large,” her website says. I’m here. state.

Doctors make important decisions. But racist doctors take little responsibility even if they harm their patients. It’s time to put everything on the table. The time has come for doctors to wear body cams. Sign up 👩🏽‍⚕️. @the_emancipator https://t.co/FO2ZjZKPgf

— Amanda Joy Calhoun, MD, MPH (@AmandaJoyMD) July 5, 2023

“As a physician, I have witnessed countless acts of racism toward black patients, often coupled with deliberate and cruel remarks. I’ve heard people joke about joining gangs, and doctors describe black people’s natural hair as ‘wild’ and ‘unkempt,'” Calhoun claimed.

“I have seen black patients physically restrained unnecessarily. A black teenager dies from gunshot wounds while white staff refer to him as ‘just a criminal. I’ve stood in the emergency room while laughing,” she continued.

To combat these questionable behaviors, Calhoun suggests using body cameras to help medical professionals “self-check” their behavior towards patients. Calhoun admitted that the use of body cameras is “racist” and there is no guarantee that black lives will be saved, but she reasoned about the footage: May be “material evidence” for patients when dealing with negligence claims. She gave an example of Tyre Nichols, a black man who was allegedly beaten to death by five black police officers in Memphis..

“Patient discrimination can lead to the disqualification of a doctor, but it is difficult to prove who was involved in racist conduct ex post, especially if it is not documented,” Calhoun said. claimed. (Related: American Medical Association Tells Blacks to Ignore ‘Racist’ Health Indicators)

a 2016 survey The researchers found that racial prejudice among medical residents and interns has led black Americans to systematically under-treat pain compared to white Americans, and that pain thresholds differ between both races. discovered something different. Participants who espoused these beliefs rated black (rather than white) patients as having less pain and were less accurate in making treatment recommendations,” the study revealed.

Calhoun further argued that allegations of racism in hospitals are underreported because the burden of proof lies on patients and the risk of retaliation is high. Even when it is reported, punishment for such conduct is “inconsistently enforced,” Calhoun continued.

“If hospitals and medical institutions want to adhere to the 2020 anti-racism statement, prove it. Have health care workers wear body cameras. You’ll feel more comfortable, and as a doctor, I volunteer to wear it first,” Calhoun said.