Racial Disparities in the Delivery of Health Care

This article focuses on the role of conscious and unconscious bias in the delivery of health care. Racial disparities of a range of health care services are illustrated, including drug therapy, Medicare services, and organ transplantation. Methodological challenges to measuring such disparities are also addressed, as are sociological factors influencing disparities. Statutory and constitutional remedies are suggested to redress inequities.

The author concludes, however, prospective approaches, such as regulation and education, are the most promising avenues to solving racial disparities in health care delivery.