Normal view

STAT
Opinion: Racial bias in medicine can be as simple as dismissing Black patients as a ‘hard stick’ Jahidah La Roche
I was moments away from a routine screening colonoscopy when it happened again. The warm and professional pre-procedure nurse began preparing for intravenous insertion. She tied the tourniquet loosely around my arm, took a quick glance, and untied it within seconds. “I can’t find a vein. You must be dehydrated,” she said, moving immediately to the back of my hand. I paused. I didn’t feel dehydrated. Yes, I had followed the bowel prep instructions, consuming only liquids the day before, but I
2 December 2025 at 17:30

Opinion: Racial bias in medicine can be as simple as dismissing Black patients as a ‘hard stick’

STAT

2 December 2025 at 17:30

I was moments away from a routine screening colonoscopy when it happened again. The warm and professional pre-procedure nurse began preparing for intravenous insertion. She tied the tourniquet loosely around my arm, took a quick glance, and untied it within seconds. “I can’t find a vein. You must be dehydrated,” she said, moving immediately to the back of my hand.

I paused. I didn’t feel dehydrated. Yes, I had followed the bowel prep instructions, consuming only liquids the day before, but I had no signs of dehydration. I knew my body. I knew my veins.

Read the rest…