CREATING RACISM-CRITICAL SPACES

In October 2022, two workshops and a lecture called "Rassismuskritische Räume schaffen" took place at the University of Basel with medical students from different universities. Gina Vega, M.A. Ethnology & Sociology and head of the Fachstelle Diskriminierung und Rassismus and "Beratungsnetz für Rassismusopfer" (counselling network for victims of racism), took us on an exciting, important and instructive examination of ourselves and our own racist thought patterns.

We reflected on our very privileged positions, confronted everyday racism and exchanged ideas about teaching points in medical school, as well as how and what we had (not) learned in university on these topics.

Why is this important?

Medical teaching is shaped by generations of White researchers. It is shaped by colonial heritage, medical products geared towards EuroAmerican patients and doctors who experience and practice structural racism in everyday life. As a result, BIPoC (Black, Indigenous and People of Colour) experience worse medical treatment. A study has shown that residents are less likely to treat Black people presenting to the Emergency Department with an acute coronary syndrome (partial occlusion of the heart vessels) adequately due to implicit preferences and stereotypes. BIPoC patients presenting with headache are further more more likely to be treated with painkillers (despite reporting higher pain levels during triage) than White patients who were significantly more likely to receive a head CT scan or neurology consult. Another study from the US shows that the risk of pregnancy-related death is

1 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17594129/

2 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35905601/

3 https://www.uptodate.com/contents/racial-and-ethnic-disparities-in-obstetric-and-gynecologic-care-and-role-of-impli cit-biases?search=racial%20bias&source=search_result&selectedTitle=1~97&usage_type=default&display_rank=1

4 e.g. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30544245/ two to three times higher in Black American and American Indian/Native Alaskan mothers than in White mothers.

Other examples include skin diseases that are not recognised on pigmented skin (Mind the Gap. Mukwende M., 2020), the baseless assumption that patients do not speak the local language and in other cases the lack of sufficient interpreters in hospitals. These examples are signs of racist socialisation. In addition, the majority of medical research is focused on a European population. Too little is known about metabolism and deviation from laboratory standards in other populations. This in turn leads to drug side effects, incorrect measurements of vital signs and many more disadvantages.

With the events of "Rassismuskritische Räume schaffen", we wanted to start a conversation that will lead to better care for our patients in the future. In order to change the current way of dealing with racism in medicine, we need to become aware of where discriminatory structures are hidden. These already start in our studies, in our lectures. We are convinced that these events have started a discourse among the participants, which will also have an impact on the university context.

Additionally, it was very inspiring that students from different universities came together and were able to talk about the respective differences of the universities, as well as network.

If you are interested in recommendations on further literature, please feel free to contact us. The events were financed by the kind support of SWIMSA, FaMBa and Diversity Uni Basel - thank you very much!

Event tip: On 01.04.2023 our last event will take place: a workshop for people affected by racism who work in the health sector. Registrations via social-health@unibas.ch .