Education
Health
Child Health
Healthcare
Social Issues
Discrimination
Ethics in Medicine
Paediatric Care
For those shocked by ‘white-led care’ in paediatrics – here’s more detail of a case where ‘white-led care’ was presented as exemplar of patient centred care to the wider hospital. I will NEVER work in a hospital that facilitates 'white-led care'. #RCPCH21 1/
Parents of a child refused care from any ethnic minority doctor, in hostile language. The child had a complex metabolic condition that needed tertiary level care. 2/
The clinical director felt this was a unique case. The child’s health came first, they had complex medical needs, and therefore the patient needed to be cared for by whoever the family were willing to accept. 3/
This was made clear to all the clinical team, and all clinics were planned so that only a white doctor reviewed the patient. 4/
On one occasion, when the child was clinically ill, they refused to come in, unless they could be guaranteed a white doctor in ED. 5/
The metabolic team rang the department, and stated that they needed to check whether any white doctors were on shift, but when it was discovered this wasn’t the case, a white doctor came in from home to assess them. 6/
This was presented at a wider hospital meeting as an example of exemplar patient focused care, and the arrangement continued for a year before it was felt unethical, and the family were told they had to see which ever doctor was available, and they agreed. 7/
Both the parents and the paediatricians are morally culpable for racism in this case. Paediatricians enabled racism, meaning an entire ED of doctors were deamed inadequate because none of them were white. 8/
This is only one example. I also know of a case on an inpatient ward were rotas have been rearranged for ‘white doctor’ led care. This is humiliating, unethical, and should be a never event. Paediatricians need GMC and RCPCH guidance on how to stand up to racist parents 9/
Loading suggestions...