Dr. Nichole Mgboji shared a viral TikTok video discussing the importance of representation in medicine for Black patients. She highlighted a case where a patient’s hyperpigmentation was misdiagnosed as necrosis, illustrating how a lack of diversity among medical practitioners can lead to serious errors. Misdiagnosis rates are significantly higher among Black individuals compared to white men. Dr. Mgboji pointed out the insufficient education on recognizing conditions in diverse skin tones during her training, emphasizing that diverse medical representation is essential for accurate diagnosis and effective patient care.
When we lack diversity in medicine, these mistakes happen. DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) isn't just a buzzword-it's a necessity for better patient care and outcomes.
At my institution, I don't believe there was an overwhelming amount of literature or pictures about different melanated skin tones, but we were instructed to recognize that things will, in fact, look different on various complexions.
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