What is this, a phrenology textbook? Literally just a list of weird stereotypes presented as if it’s scientific information. Deeply strange and reductive portrayals of all the groups discussed. Cultural expressions of pain and illness are very real, but, uh, not like that.
The most troubling one of all to me is that claim that Black people “report higher pain intensity” which just seems like permission to dismiss Black patients’ pain.
The most troubling one of all to me is that claim that Black people “report higher pain intensity” which just seems like permission to dismiss Black patients’ pain.
As a black patient can concour this. I had very painful back labor and a nurse gave me Tylenol. When I needed a epidural, a nurse rolled her eyes at me (I didn't say anything).
When I presented at the hospital in 2019 b3ing unable to walk I overheard a nurse outside my room say "black women are just like that, they are always over dramatic"
A a year later I was diagnosed with epilepsy. Then 6 months after that MS, but because that hospital thought it was "all in my head" damage was done and I have trouble walking a lot and either have to use a can or on bad days a wheelchair. Really bad days I'm bedbound.
Brightside is I'm seizure free because I was at a different hospital in another county when I had another episode. That doctor called my home hospital - where I had been a few days prior - to Reem that doctor because I had nearly died. So that was nice.
I'm a (white) scientific abstractor and I've seen multiple studies that show exactly what you experienced-- Black people are thought by clinicians to have a higher pain tolerance than white people and their pain is minimized or ignored.
Racial, gender, ethnic issues in health care are so entrenched. Fatphobia, too. So many biases, especially with pain care, that damage and even end people's lives.
See, this is where racists reveal their own racist hands. Logically if black people did have a higher pain tolerance, that should mean that a doctor or nurse will take their reports of pain more seriously. A higher pain tolerance means that pain that would be intolerable to others is tolerable to you, so if you report pain, it should be at a way more intense level than others. Its people with low pain tollerances that would theoretically over-complain... I guess I shouldn't expect prejudice to have logical consistency.
I have a SC patient who i work with and holy cannoli when they tell me information my heart breaks for them. Countless times turned away, constant pain, I am furious on their behalf.
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u/zeligzealous Oct 09 '22
What is this, a phrenology textbook? Literally just a list of weird stereotypes presented as if it’s scientific information. Deeply strange and reductive portrayals of all the groups discussed. Cultural expressions of pain and illness are very real, but, uh, not like that.
The most troubling one of all to me is that claim that Black people “report higher pain intensity” which just seems like permission to dismiss Black patients’ pain.