Recognizing Bias...

Dr. Ashley Meagher is a Trauma and Acute Care Surgeon at IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana and is affiliated with Indiana University School of Medicine. The lecture given Recognizing Bias: A Conversation About Clinical Impact, discussed discriminatory and biased interactions apparent in clinical settings, and how they affect providers and patients alike. The latter half of the lecture turned into an open forum, where people were able to discuss varied experiences of discrimination in healthcare settings.

Healthcare professionals are overtaxed as is. Between the long hours, heavy work loads, and traumatic experiences, microaggressions will add to negative patient and workplace interactions. Microaggressions are defined as a statement, action, or incident regarded as an instance of indirect, subtle, or unintentional discrimination against member of a marginalized group such as a racial or ethnic minority. (Merriam-Webster, 2022) They can be commonplace, verbal/nonverbal, offhanded slights, putdowns, offensive, and belittling. Microaggressions are ways that communicate an implicit bias from one person to another. Implicit bias is defined as a tendency of inclination that results in judgment without question, an automatic response or a shortcut to interact with our world. While both implicit and explicit bias exists within healthcare, this lecture focused on implicit bias in order to (1) define it, (2) recognize biased behavior, and (3) provide tools to combat and correct those behaviors.

The lecturer made it very apparent that this is an uncomfortable subject and that we all inherently have some form of bias. It is appreciated, mainly because it is has been my experience that when having these difficult discussions it is important to be open to different views while still affirming that discrimination and racism does exist, and how it affects marginalized groups everyday. Experiencing the same comments “well if you just work hard enough, anyone can succeed”, “race and gender really doesn’t matter anymore, we’re past that”, “I’m surprised that you’re good at this”, and “you just seem angry”, can be very frustrating. While it’s happening, at times, you can feel stuck, almost frozen. It is not until you process what was said, that you feel prepared to respond, or bring attention to it.

The UPstander Pledge

I am an UPstander.

I have the power to influence my peers.

I SAY something or DO something when you need help.

I am there for you.

I will help you get the help you need.

You are not alone.

I have your back.

It is important, as an ally, to be able to properly discern implicit bias, as well as, play a supportive role to the targeted individual. The lecturer emphasized the principal responsibility as supporting the oppressed, rather than taking over the situation themselves. Standing up or speaking out against injustices are not easy, particularly when they are not explicit or early identifiable. She also discussed that the focus should not be on changing minds, rather that energy is better used on exposing implicit bias and microaggressions, while also making it apparent to the aggressor that behavior is unwelcome.

Love,

K.

Resources:

Meagher, A. (2022, April). Recognizing Bias: A Conversation About Clinical Impact. Fairbanks Center for Medical Ethics. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tw4NP279y68&t=3519s.