Responsibility for Structural Racism in Medicine: Reflections and Recommendations from One Institution.

Area of Science:

• Medical Ethics
• Social Justice in Healthcare
• Health Equity Research

Background:

• Structural racism in medicine perpetuates health disparities.
• Existing ethical frameworks offer limited guidance on addressing systemic injustice.
• The social connection model of responsibility provides a novel approach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To apply the social connection model of responsibility to structural racism in medicine.
• To explore how acknowledging localized instances of racism can foster institutional change.
• To detail the experiences of a scholarly group examining institutional history and agency.

Main Methods:

• Drawing upon ethical arguments by Zheng and Young.
• Applying the social connection model to structural racism.
• Participating in a year-long Medical Ethics Forum Fellowship (2019-2020).
• Engaging in literature review, monthly discussions, and expert presentations.

Main Results:

• Localized study of racism raises personal and institutional consciousness.
• This consciousness forms a knowledge base for effective action against structural racism.
• The fellowship experience facilitated introspection and understanding of agency in altering institutional trajectories.

Conclusions:

• Responsibility for structural racism necessitates acknowledging and studying particular instances of injustice.
• This process is vital for developing effective strategies to combat health inequities.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration and dedicated learning are key to addressing systemic racism in healthcare.