Question

A medical assistant calls in her patient, an African American transgendered woman (in her late 40s) to take a patient history, blood pressure, weight, and other vitals before she sees the physician. The assumption is that she is of middle class economic status. The medical assistant notes in her history that she is in the process of transitioning from male to female and questions the patient’s religious beliefs in relation to her decisions. The patient becomes agitated and expresses to the medical assistant that this is none of her business. The patient replies that she is here only for her annual physical. The medical assistant proceeds with preparing the patient for the physician. The medical assistant notes the woman has extremely long, thick hair in a style known as locks. As the patient stands on the scale, the medical assistant asks her how much she believes she would weigh without her hair. The patient is rather surprised and responds by stating that she doesn’t understand the question. She looks at the medical assistant, who has short blonde hair and asks, “Do you mean if my hair was short? I don’t understand your question.” “No, the medical assistant replies, “I mean if you remove your hair.” The patient became quite offended because her hair is her own and cannot be removed. She tells the medical assistant that her question was inappropriate and inaccurate and asks if she could just record her weight and move on to the blood pressure. The medical assistant looks at her with trepidation, still suspicious about her hair, and asks the patient to roll up her sleeves, so she can apply the blood pressure cuff. The patient is visibly offended, based on her expression, but receives no apology from the assistant. After completing the blood pressure check, the medical assistant tells the patient her blood pressure is very high. “You may want to consider cutting out soul food.” The patient replies curtly, “I am a vegetarian, and I don’t eat soul food.” The medical assistant leaves curtly, indicating that the doctor will be right in to proceed with the exam. The patient seriously considers leaving as she waits for the doctor because she has been so offended.

Question 1. Analyze and explain the biases in this scenario that interfere with patient care? Include gender, race, religion, age, economic status, and appearance—all 6 factors must be analyzed and discussed

Answer 1

There are many biases in this case which were done by the medical assistant :-

Economic status - assumption that she is of middle class economic status

Gender - Transgender and what are her religious beliefs in relation to her decisions about transformation from male to female.

Appearance - medical assistant notes the woman has extremely long, thick hair in a style known as locks , which is the trade mark of Africans

Age- suspicious about the hair style, belief that its not original .

Race - based on her race medical assistant told her to cut soul food ,but she was a vegan .