Beyond the Oath: Racial Disparities Within Healthcare That Erode Bioethical Principles
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Authors
Adriana Olivia
Issue Date
2026
Type
Language
Keywords
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Abstract
Racial disparities within healthcare create an unjust treatment of care for many diverse patients directly impacting many principles of bioethics that healthcare professionals swear an oath to. These racial disparities are displayed in many different scenarios such as where Black and Hispanic patients are forced to wait longer wait times for care or stereotyped as drug addicts and drug dealers when reporting pain. They may also be seen in the lack of access to care in low-income areas where minorities tend to reside. Key principles such as justice, beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy, paternalism, and fidelity are only a few principles that are challenged reducing the quality of care given to minorities. Justice is impaired when minority communities lack nearby healthcare resources or face delays in treatment. Beneficence and non-maleficence are affected when language barriers or poor communication from language interpreters leads to misunderstandings causing potential harm. Autonomy becomes affected when patients cannot fully understand their diagnosis or treatment plan. These communication barriers can also lead to paternalism, where healthcare professionals make decisions without proper patient involvement. Fidelity is damaged when patients feel judged, ignored, or unsafe, causing many to avoid seeking care altogether. Many questions arise whether these disparities are discriminatory or simply just a case of fate creating a difference in care. Addressing these racial disparities and viewing both sides of the argument is essential to promote an ethical, equal, and good quality care for all patients, while also working together to fix any issues that impair the quality of care given to all patients.