Genetic mutations and racial disparities in leukemia survival

Throughout contemporary medical discourse, health disparities among racial and ethnic groups are often attributed to systemic and structural racism. Furthermore, organizations such as the American Medical Association assert that race itself is a social construct and urge a shift away from viewing race as a “biological risk factor” toward a “deeper understanding of racism as a determinant of health.” Unfortunately, this framing rings hollow and obscures an important fact: Biology can significantly shape health outcomes and disparities. Ignoring this reality only hinders our understanding of why different groups experience distinct patterns of illness and well-being and, in turn, how to treat them most effectively. Put plainly, biology may well be the root cause of these health disparities, and dismissing it comes at the expense of patients.

Read the full article at KevinMD.com.