Breaking the silence and confronting racism on the wards

What happens when in the act of caring for a patient your personal dignity is compromised? I was forced to confront this problem when I was working on the wards as a medical student. A question from a patient echoed with insensitivity, unravelling a deeper prejudice that, at first, I chose to dismiss. “What’s your kung fu name?”When I responded with “Kevin,” the patient insisted, “No, that’s not your real name.” Although I was shocked by the comment, I brushed it off to avoid making the patient uncomfortable and to maintain a positive relationship. My immediate priority was to provide the best care possible, and, at that moment, the patient’s remark seemed like a minor disturbance.The true effect of the encounter became apparent, however, when a resident who witnessed the exchange decided to acknowledge the racism. She asked the patient why they thought it was okay to ask such a…
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