higher pain tolerance than their white counterparts. This implicit bias may have a significant impact on how they prescribe and address your health concerns.
Your doctor is trained with an extensive medical history, but they don’t know your entire medical history, nor can they feel what you feel. So, be sure to advocate for your health. Speak up and say no when you’re uncomfortable with a suggestion.
Based on the urgency, take time to think over a treatment plan or consider a second opinion before deciding.
“You Are Not Married to Your Doctor”: How to Take Charge of Your Health
Shop around for another doctor
Sometimes, your healthcare provider’s personality, communication style or treatment approach may just not be a good fit for you. Don’t hesitate to find a new doctor if you want a second opinion or prefer a doctor with a different communication style. C
ontact your healthcare insurance, shop around on a search engine, or contact specific provider networks to find a new doctor.
If you’d prefer a Black doctor or a specific gender provider, call a provider network and make a request. Based on your needs, consider using specific provider directories to locate doctors with experience treating Black Americans, larger bodies, and LGBTQ-identified persons.
File a complaint
If you have reason to believe that you’ve experienced discrimination or mistreatment by a healthcare provider, file a formal complaint. First, it’s important to bring your complaint to your doctor or hospital supervisor, so they have a chance to recognize their behavior, address your issue or apologize.
However, if that does not work, file a formal complaint. Complaints can be submitted through your state’s Medical Board. If you’re on Medicare, file a complaint through your State’s Quality Improvement Organization (QIO). Also, consider leaving a general review on a consumer-facing website.