Page 16 - Biotechnology newsletter 2023-24

Gender Bias in the field of medicine.

In clinical medicine studies have shown unjustified differences in the
investigation and treatment of male and female patients; measures that are
not evidence-based. Most research on this subject has been about coronary
heart disease but there are studies also about many other conditions, for
example kidney disease, HIV/AIDS, colorectal cancer, COPD, Parkinson's
disease and psoriasis. In most cases the bias reported is negative for women,
but there are also reports about gender bias affecting men. For example there
are reports that men with depression and migraine are not diagnosed and
treated properly. In fact, during the last decade a focus on the relation
between masculinity and health-hazards has emerged and thereby a discussion
about the 'mixed blessing' of male gender.
In medical research, gender bias results in a suboptimal scientific rationality.
Biomedicine did not produce adequate knowledge about a series of important
diseases until a gender perspective was used. Moreover, female patients
frequently confront diagnostic delays, under treatment of pain, and dismissal
of symptoms due to gender stereotypes perpetuated by healthcare providers.
Thus, gender bias in medicine occurs at many levels and these levels impact on
each other. The ramifications of gender bias reverberate throughout the
healthcare system, jeopardizing patient outcomes and perpetuating inequities.
Female physicians may experience burnout and attrition due to workplace
discrimination and limited opportunities for advancement. Additionally, biased
medical research contributes to knowledge gaps in understanding sex-specific
health disparities and undermines the efficacy of treatments tailored to
diverse patient populations. Ultimately, gender bias undermines trust in the
medical profession and compromises the delivery of equitable healthcare
services.
Combatting gender bias in medicine necessitates a multifaceted approach
encompassing education, policy reform, and institutional accountability.
Medical schools must integrate gender-sensitive curriculum that emphasize the
importance of cultural competence, empathy, and inclusivity in patient care.
Healthcare organizations should implement transparent hiring and promotion
practices to mitigate gender disparities in leadership roles and remuneration.
Furthermore, fostering a culture of diversity and inclusion within medical
institutions can cultivate a supportive environment for women and
marginalized groups, facilitating their professional growth and well-being. By
championing diversity, promoting gender parity, and advocating for
institutional reform, the medical community can fulfill its ethical imperative to
deliver compassionate, evidence-based care to patients irrespective of gender.
Only through collective action can we dismantle the barriers perpetuating
gender bias and realize the full potential of medicine as a force for healing
and social justice.

~Kimberly Bennet D'Costa
S.Y.B.Sc Biotechnology
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