Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care

Kenneth L. Cohen

doi:10.7326/0003-4819-142-2-200501180-00018

Letters |18 January 2005

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care

Kenneth L. Cohen, MD

Article, Author, and Disclosure Information

TO THE EDITOR:

The position paper on racial and ethnic disparities in health care (1) certainly has considerable merit and contains many recommendations that are very proper and appropriate. However, I feel compelled to comment on the section titled “Minorities in Medical School,” since I vehemently disagree with it. Indeed, I am appalled, embarrassed, disappointed, and saddened that the American College of Physicians would take such an inappropriate position. While the other positions and recommendations in the article are certainly valid, admissions to medical school should be based on merit and achievement and should reflect quality. They should not be affected by ethnic issues, which need to be addressed at multiple levels before admission to medical school. It should not matter whether an entire class is male or female or black or white, as long as the best applicants for admission are selected. Indeed, “the best man for the job may be a woman.” One or two generations ago, few women were admitted to medical school, and now approximately 50% of many classes are women, not because of their sex but because they are the best applicants for the positions.

FULL TEXT

PDF

Not Available

2005 American College of Physicians

Letters |18 January 2005

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care

See Also

Content

Information For

Services

Awards and Cover

Other Resources

Follow Annals On

Letters |18 January 2005

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care

See Also

Content

Information For

Services

Awards and Cover

Other Resources

Follow Annals On

You need a subscription to this content to use this feature.