Patients' rights and professional responsibilities: the moral case for cultural competence

A right to health care can be derived from basic ethical principles. The empirical evidence revealing significant racial inequities in health status, access to health services, quality of care received and outcomes of health services is reviewed. The need for health care providers to acquire cultural competence in order to fulfill their professional responsibilities is discussed; the insight, knowledge and discipline required to function effectively in the context of cultural differences are described. The broader implications of cultural competence for institutional and public policy, research and professional education are outlined.