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09-26-2007, 06:37 PM
National Prostate Cancer Basketball Tournaments & Health
“We asked why there are so fewer kidney transplants, bypass surgeries and other procedures performed on African Americans as compared to whites. There is a wide gap between health care; racial and ethnic groups are the hardest hit,” Black said.
Medical professionals often debate the causes of these disparities. Why are African Americans routinely the worst off when rates of chronic illnesses are compared? Many cite the lack of economic resources, exorbitant doctors fees, lack of education or awareness. Some argue that black folks don’t feel welcome in white hospitals, and that black men don’t like going to the doctor.
Many African Americans point to the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiments as the basis of their reluctance. The 40-year medical experiments recruited 400 black men from Tuskegee, Alabama under false pretenses and failed to provide treatment. Studies were conducted by government doctors. Black noted that the experiments fostered suspicions among African Americans, but added that men are universally distrustful of medical professionals.
“I don’t think anyone really knows why men don’t trust doctors,” he said. “We have an inherent feeling that makes it difficult to acknowledge that we’re vulnerable. We don’t want anyone else to be in charge of our health so we won’t share an illness, weakness or disease with anyone. I think it’s more of a ‘man’ thing.”
Black said men need to understand that avoiding doctors puts their health at risk. “That’s the bottom line. This life is no dress rehearsal. We are holding in our hands right now the passport to good health. We must take charge and responsibility for our own health, no one is going to do it for us.”
Black infant mortality rates are nearly three times higher than white babies and African American women are 2 times more likely to have limited prenatal care.
“We asked why there are so fewer kidney transplants, bypass surgeries and other procedures performed on African Americans as compared to whites. There is a wide gap between health care; racial and ethnic groups are the hardest hit,” Black said.
Medical professionals often debate the causes of these disparities. Why are African Americans routinely the worst off when rates of chronic illnesses are compared? Many cite the lack of economic resources, exorbitant doctors fees, lack of education or awareness. Some argue that black folks don’t feel welcome in white hospitals, and that black men don’t like going to the doctor.
Many African Americans point to the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiments as the basis of their reluctance. The 40-year medical experiments recruited 400 black men from Tuskegee, Alabama under false pretenses and failed to provide treatment. Studies were conducted by government doctors. Black noted that the experiments fostered suspicions among African Americans, but added that men are universally distrustful of medical professionals.
“I don’t think anyone really knows why men don’t trust doctors,” he said. “We have an inherent feeling that makes it difficult to acknowledge that we’re vulnerable. We don’t want anyone else to be in charge of our health so we won’t share an illness, weakness or disease with anyone. I think it’s more of a ‘man’ thing.”
Black said men need to understand that avoiding doctors puts their health at risk. “That’s the bottom line. This life is no dress rehearsal. We are holding in our hands right now the passport to good health. We must take charge and responsibility for our own health, no one is going to do it for us.”
Black infant mortality rates are nearly three times higher than white babies and African American women are 2 times more likely to have limited prenatal care.