"Gould's findings were consistent with previous conjectures, where the apparent lower lung function of Black people was part of a justification for enslavement."
"The assumption that Black people have lower 'normal' lung capacity became built into medical practice: a 'race correction' in the equation that translates spirometer readings into a measurement of lung function automatically lowered the threshold of 'normal' lung function for Black patients."
"This 'race-corrected' equation was in widespread use and recommended by the American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society until 2022."
"The history of science and medicine offers up countless examples of the ways in which social values, biases, and assumptions can systematically distort knowledge."
In 1864, Benjamin Apthorp Gould conducted a survey of Civil War soldiers, revealing racial differences in lung function. His findings suggested lower lung capacity in Black individuals, reinforcing justifications for enslavement. This led to the adoption of a 'race correction' in spirometer readings, categorizing lung function differently for Black and white patients. Such biases became entrenched in medical practice, with the 'race-corrected' equation used until 2022. This case exemplifies how social values and biases can distort scientific knowledge and medical understanding.
Read at Apaonline
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]