Limb from Limb

Limb from Limb

By Michael Leshinski

A woman walks into a doctor’s office for the fourth time this month and tries to relax in the waiting room. She is early for the appointment and has plenty of time to wonder what her prognosis will be. Battling courageously against severe symptoms of insulin dependent diabetes (Type I), she even feels optimistic about what the doctor will say. However, no one has told her that the decisions to come would depend on her skin color and place of residence. According to the NY Times, a recent study comparing medical care to the patient’s race and place of residence has revealed some surprising results. If our patient happens to be African-American, then she is five times more likely to have a limb amputated than her Caucasian counterpart. Not only are African-Americans more likely to lose a limb, but they are also less likely to undergo the routine testing associated with diabetes. Does it mean that amputation is a better health option for different races of people? No. Or does this mean that the doctors taking care of black diabetes patients are racist? I don’t think so. The combination of the patient’s geography and skin color proved to have unequal care standards in different states throughout the country.

For example, rural areas of the United States like Nebraska and South Dakota have seen extremely high levels of patients relying on Medicare, which can possibly act as reason for sub-par patient treatment. In this instance, the substandard treatment given to our impoverished manifests itself as preventable and even unnecessary limb removal. Southern states, including Louisiana and Mississippi, have much higher rates of amputation than wealthier states such as Colorado. So our woman diabetes patient waiting in the doctor’s office better hope that she has good medical coverage, or she may be leaving there minus an appendage. Not only that, she should probably hope that she’s white and lives in a wealthier area. According to the Times’ article, national grants have been allocated in order to improve the level of care in the substandard areas of this country. Will it work? Let’s hope so.

1. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/05/health/research/05disparities.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1214587353-HiZLHIIwmewjdHWxb9Jhrg

2. http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/income/income06/statemhi2.html