Member-only story
5 Lessons the Black Lives Matter Movement Can Teach the Health Care Industry
A physician checks herself and her profession
I have always been a humanist. I was raised Buddhist, don’t typically buy into bipartisan politics, and work hard to resist the reflex of “othering” those who have different opinions. I have been challenged recently, however, to understand how peacefulness can be a slippery slope to complacency.
As many sectors of society show humility during a global call for racial justice, the field of medicine (my domain) is frustratingly vain. The health care industry as a whole could stand to take a page from this moment in history. The following list of lessons is by no means exhaustive. Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, it is a handful of reflections I’ve had as a health care worker within an industry built on inequality.
1. Our patients are not safe
As a women’s health physician, I often ask my patients about intimate partner violence. I ask, “Is there anyone in your life who is hurting you, threatening you, or trying to control your body or your decisions?” When a patient answers “yes,” my next questions assess her level of safety. “Do you live alone? Is there anyone you go to for support? Have you gone to the police?” My question about…
