News Health & Medicine

Racial bias can seep into U.S. patients’ medical notes

“Refused” and “unwilling” are among the words more likely to appear in Black patients’ charts

two medical professionals standing in a hallway looking over a chart

Negative and stigmatizing language appeared more often in the charts of Black patients than white patients, report two new studies that analyzed the electronic health record.

Hinterhaus Productions/DigitalVision/Getty Images Plus

By Aimee Cunningham

- More than 2 years ago

When health care providers enter notes into patients’ electronic health records, they are more likely to portray Black patients negatively compared with white patients, two recent studies have found.