>
>He and other researchers say the reasons may include false
>stereotypes, such as the assumption that blacks are more
>likely to abuse drugs, as well as a tendency for doctors to
>empathize less with patients whose race is different from
>their own — perhaps subconsciously — and to underestimate
>the severity of their pain. Only about 4 percent of the
>country’s practicing physicians are black.
>
>http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/10/us/how-race-plays-a-role-in-patients-pain-treatment.html?_r=0


I wonder if there's disparity by gender as well.

And I bet that 4% probably shrinks to <1% if they were to only count specialists/pain specialists, who black patients are already less likely to be referred to in the first place.


edit: On a side note, this phenomenon has taken some getting used to because I grew up in a predominantly white region where POC were a large proportion of the doctors and specialists. Not sure of the exact proportion, but it was definitely more than the 1% of POC in general the population. I'd guess it was probably around 30% for doctors in general, and inching up to 40%+ once you got to various specialties.