Submitted to the Interim 2015 HOD meeting.

Committee F

602 Reducing Discrimination in the Practice of Medicine and Health Care Education

RESOLVED, That our American Medical Association collaborate with the American Public Health Association (APHA) and other partners in a National Campaign Against Racism  including the identification of and education on implementation of successful anti-racism interventions in medical settings (Directive to Take Action); and be it further

RESOLVED, That our AMA collaborate with APHA and other partners in a National Campaign Against Racism to develop policies and practices that will reduce the ill effects of racism, sexism, religious and class prejudice, within society as a whole, and specifically within the practice of medicine (Directive to Take Action); and be it further

RESOLVED, That our AMA collaborate with APHA and other partners in a National Campaign Against Racism to support the preparation, training and education of professionals in the medical, nursing, pharmaceutical, and allied health specialties to assure no discrimination against any individual or group wishing to enter the health care field. (Directive to Take Action)

Resolution as Submitted:

Subject:       Reducing Discrimination in the Practice of Medicine and
Health Care Education



Referred to:   Reference Committee ___



Whereas:    The American Public Health Association (APHA) is joining
other national organizations within and outside the health sector to
launch a National Campaign Against Racism starting November 2, 2015; and

Whereas:    The fundamental principles of our profession is that
medicine adhere to the concept that all patients should have equal
access to quality care, be treated effectively by their provider, be
served efficiently within the clinical setting; and that we, as
providers, make every effort to "do no harm;”  and

Whereas:   Any form of discrimination against an individual as a
result of his or her age, sex, race, income, or other quality that
distinguishes that individual from others seeking care, is in sharp
conflict with our ethics as members of the medical profession; and

Whereas:    As a nation, we in the United States, have done much to
eliminate discrimination in most areas of society, including medical
practice, education, housing, and employment, the phenomenon still
persists; and

Whereas:    Where discrimination in any form remains, those who are
the objects of those prejudices suffer from many social ills,
including poverty, inadequate education and training, joblessness,
inadequate access to health care resulting in poor health and higher
levels of mortality than the US population as a whole; and

Whereas:    Our AMA recognizes racial and ethnic health disparities as
a major  public health problem in the United States and as a barrier
to  effective medical diagnosis and treatment; and

Whereas:    Our AMA maintains a  position of zero tolerance toward
racially or culturally based disparities in care; and

Whereas:    Our AMA supports physician cultural awareness  initiatives
and related consumer education activities; and

Whereas:    The APHA's National Campaign Against Racism presents a time-sensitive opportunity for our AMA to act effectively on its principles in concert with other groups;



Therefore, be it

Resolved:     That our AMA collaborate with APHA and other partners in
a National Campaign Against Racism  including the identification of
and education on implementation of successful anti-racism
interventions  in medical settings; and be it further

Resolve:       That our AMA collaborate with APHA and other partners
in a National Campaign Against Racism to develop policies and
practices that will reduce the ill effects of racism, sexism,
religious and class prejudice, within society as a whole, and
specifically within the practice of medicine; and be it further

Resolve:       That our AMA collaborate with APHA and other partners
in a National Campaign Against Racism to support the preparation,
training and education of professionals in the medical, nursing,
pharmaceutical, and allied health specialties to assure no
discrimination against any individual or group wishing to enter the
health care field.



References

Jones, C.P., APHA’s Role in a National Campaign Against Racism
available at  https://apha.confex.com/apha/143am/webprogram/Paper338642.html


Baker R. B. HISTORY OF MEDICINE:  The American Medical Association
and Race Virtual Mentor now  American Medical Association Journal of
Ethics.  June 2014, Volume 16, Number 6: 479-488. Available at:
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/about-ama/our-history/ama-history-timeline.page

Relevant AMA Policy

H-350.974 Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care