The Tuskegee Experiment
In 1932, the United States Public Health Service along with the Center for Disease Control recruited hundreds of men from Macon County, Alabama for “free healthcare services.” Instead of receiving adequate treatment, these men were a part of a 40-year study on the effect of untreated syphilis. Even after penicillin was made available for the treatment of syphilis, these men were still denied access and many lost their lives in the name of science.
Henrietta Lacks
Henrietta Lacks went to John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland for severe bleeding — later to be found out caused by cervical cancer. In the process of diagnosing and treating her disease, doctors’ sent Mrs. Lacks’ cells to a researcher without her consent. It was found that her cells had the capacity to survive and reproduce outside of the human body — essentially making them immortal. Mrs. Lacks’ family was never offered compensation for the taking of her cells that have been widely used in the decades since 1951 and creating enormous wealth for those involved in the study and use of her likeness.
J. Marion Sims
Dubbed the “Father of Modern Gynecology,” Sims bought enslaved Black women in the 19th century to perform experimental surgeries on… without any form of anesthesia. Anarcha, Betsey, and Lucy are the only names of the brave women whose bodies were stolen, manipulated, and abused in the name of medicine.
What Now?
Do not invalidate a Black patient’s fear. Trauma is hereditary and there has been a long-standing history of distrust between the Black community and healthcare institutions. The lack of equity and access contributes to hesitancy when it comes to most vaccines — let alone something as pressing as the one for COVID-19.
Do provide information while showing compassion and understanding — it will go a long way in establishing trust in the patient relationship. Black scientists have been at the forefront of the COVID-19 vaccine development. Take the time to answer the tough questions. Be genuine in your answers and back up your answers with data that is known.
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