You shouldn’t need ‘cultural competency training’ to treat Black patients with dignity

Key Takeaways:

• Formal “cultural competency training” may not guarantee courteous treatment
• Eliminating racial bias is essential for equitable healthcare
• The original letter highlights delays in care for Black patients
• The writer advocates for basic dignity as a healthcare standard
• This perspective comes from an opinion piece in the Los Angeles Times

Introduction

A recent opinion piece in the Los Angeles Times addresses a pressing issue: delayed care for Black patients in U.S. hospitals. The letter’s author contends that cultural competency training, often touted as a solution, may not be as pivotal as forms of training that actively suppress racial bias and uphold fundamental courtesy.

The Call to Move Beyond ‘Cultural Competency’

Citing personal observations and broader concerns, the Los Angeles Times reader questions why healthcare systems focus so heavily on specialized training. Quoting directly, the letter states: “What is needed is training in eliminating or at least suppressing racial biases when dealing with nonwhite patients and lessons in common courtesy.”

Confronting Racial Bias

While some professional programs promote cultural competency, the letter argues that it should be intuitive to treat all patients with dignity, irrespective of race. According to this viewpoint, truly equitable healthcare must address the root cause of delayed or subpar care: the implicit biases that some providers may hold against nonwhite patients.

A Matter of Basic Courtesy

The message is simple: courtesy, empathy, and respect do not require specialized classes. Instead, these qualities should exist as baseline standards. The article implies that true progress hinges on medical professionals stepping beyond mandated instruction and making a conscious effort to reduce personal prejudices.

Looking Ahead

With Black patients evidently experiencing delayed or inadequate care, the reader’s letter calls for greater accountability in how healthcare providers treat all members of the community. By emphasizing respect and common decency, the piece reminds readers—and the medical community—of the central goal in healthcare: to care for people with promptness, fairness, and unconditional dignity. “`