LETTER
Skin Color and Ethnicity
Robert M. Doroghazi, MD
15 October 1995 | Volume 123 Issue 8 | Pages 636-637
TO THE EDITOR:
I read with interest the recent article by Caldwell and Popenoe [1] and the accompanying editorial by Dr. Huth [2].
Caldwell and Popenoe suggest that designations of race be dropped from medical case presentations because these terms are "superficial and potentially misleading terms that fail to serve the patient's medical needs."
The questioning of a preconceived dogma is often intellectually stimulating and can have broad, useful, and practical applications. However, I am concerned that acceptance of their suggestions would unnecessarily interject politics into medicine. Specifically, who determines when race is or is not important? Are Dr. Caldwell and Ms. Popenoe more qualified than others to decide this?
What happens if an honest disagreement arises on the extent to which race is important? One could be labeled as "ethnically insensitive" or, worse, as a racist if such disagreement occurs.
After this issue has been decided, what would be next? I find the article by Caldwell and Popenone almost frightening. Have the "thought police" arrived at Annals?
|
Author and Article Information
|
|---|
Boone Clinic; Columbia, MO 65201
1. Caldwell SH, Popenoe R. Perceptions and misperceptions of skin color. Ann Intern Med. 1995; 122:614-7.
2. Huth EJ. Identifying ethnicity in medical papers. Ann Intern Med. 1995; 122:619-21.
About Letters
The Editors welcome submissions for possible publication in the Letters section. Authors of letters should:
•Include no more than 300 words of text, three authors, and five references
•Type with double-spacing
•Send three copies of the letter, an authors' form signed by all authors, and a cover letter describing any conflicts of interest related to the contents of the letter.
Letters commenting on an Annals article will be considered if they are received within 6 weeks of the time the article was published. Only some of the letters received can be published. Published letters are edited and may be shortened; tables and figures are included only selectively. Authors will be notified that the letter has been received. If the letter is selected for publication, the author will be notified about 3 weeks before the publication date. Unpublished letters cannot be returned.
Annals welcomes electronically submitted letters.
Top
Author & Article Info
References
Article
