Focusing on risk factors could possibly lead to diagnosis by
stereotype, but that should not happen in our contemporary medical world.
Each patient is a unique individual, whose diagnosis and treatment should ideally be in accordance with the symptoms that he or she presents to a doctor. At the same time, there may be concern voiced if a doctor appears to focus on risk factors that could lead to a diagnosis by stereotype.
From a medical perspective,
when something affects a person's health, it is designated a health effector.
It is important for doctors to distinguish between risks that are actual health
effectors and those regarded as risk factors related to stereotypes.
Is there a difference? Yes, in medical realms, there
is a difference between health effectors and risk factors associated with
stereotypes.
Let us examine both topics, by
definition.
"A health effector is a
thing that can positively or negatively influence one's health. Something that
can only influence one's health negatively is called a health risk or a risk
factor." (1)
A doctor must be aware of the
possibility of stereotypes when making a diagnosis. At any time, a diagnosis
can appear to be stereotypical though that is not necessarily the case.
What is a stereotype?
"The term
"stereotype" derives from the Greek (stereos) "solid, firm"
plus (sic) "blow, impression, engraved mark" hence "solid
impression". (2)
In other words, a stereotype is
an impression formed about a person or a group of people. Sometimes, it entails
patterns of thought linked to others or their ideas. For one reason or another,
the stereotype may be fixated in the minds of numerous people. Stereotypes can
be extremely difficult to break away from, as they often involve belief
systems.
In our era, is the projection
of stereotypes onto other people, a relatively new phenomenon?
"The term, in its modern
psychology sense, was first used by Walter Lippman, in his 1922 work, ‘Public
Opinions’, although in the printing sense, it was first coined in 1798."
(3)
This is not a new phenomenon,
but it may become increasingly important in our era in the light of the current
H1N1 pandemic. At the same time, previously established stereotypes should not
determine how patients or others are treated.
What does the expression, risk
factor mean?
"A risk factor is a
variable associated with an increased risk of disease or infection. Risk
factors are correlational and not necessarily causal, because correlation does
not imply causation." (4)
In other words, because
something appears related to something else in terms of health, it does not
necessarily mean that it is the actual cause of the health concern.
How are risk factors determined
with regard to a person's health?
“Risk factors are evaluated by comparing the risk of those
exposed to the potential risk factor to those not exposed." (5)
In terms of health, a risk
level may be determined as a percentage based upon the number of people who are
actually ill, divided by the number or people exposed to an illness. Actual
medical statistics are necessary to determine the accuracy of the degree of
health risk.
Is risk factor analysis with
regard to health, something new?
No, the use of risk factor
analysis is not a new phenomenon.
"The earliest use of risk
factor analysis dates back to Avicenna's 'The Canon of Medicine'
(1020's)." (6)
"The term risk factor was
first coined by heart researcher, Dr. Thomas R. Dawber, in a landmark
scientific paper, in 1961, where he attributed heart disease to specific
conditions (blood pressure, cholesterol and (sic) smoking). (7)
In other words, those who
proved to be at the highest risk for acquiring heart disease were those who
showed evidence of high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol and were smokers.
Unfortunately, stereotypes are
not restricted to the minds of individuals, as at times, they may involve large
groups of people or even whole communities. They can be associated with
ethnicity, culture or even religion, as well as issues of medical concern.
"A stereotype is commonly
held public belief about specific social groups, or types of individuals. The
concepts of "stereotype" and "prejudice" are often confused
with many other different meanings. Stereotypes are standardized and simplified
conceptions of groups, based upon some prior assumptions." (8)
What is the basis for
stereotyping? Is there actual truth associated with stereotypes?
"Stereotypes are created
based on some idea of abstract familiarity, for example, the same behavior or
trait being repeatedly observed by multiple witnesses, over an extended period
of time. For a stereotype meme to develop and 'stick' in the popular
imagination, a stereotype cannot be completely false, and must have an element
of social recognition." (9)
Do all stereotypes have
negative connotations? Are they always in a negative context?
"A stereotype can be
deemed 'positive' or 'negative'. Concepts of stereotypes are rarely invoked in
instances of positive stereotypes being held about a group. The moniker
'stereotype' is more likely to be deployed in relation to stereotypes deemed to
be negative." (10)
In other words, if or when
there is a stereotypical bias it usually has a negative connotation, rather
than a positive context. People, by their very nature, seldom focus on the
positive in others or in relation to others and tend to magnify potentially
negative stereotypes.
What does all of this imply in
terms of a pandemic, like the H1N1 virus?
Major assumptions about a pandemic
could prove to be rooted in negative stereotypes, related to race, creed,
color, age and financial status. These negative stereotypes can result in
serious concerns regarding potential risk related to association with those
people who have been stereotyped by others. For example, those who are
stereotyped may be regarded as presenting a high risk factor to others with
regard to the spread of infectious diseases, even while this may not
necessarily be true.
The level of medical concern by
doctors and other health care professionals, during a pandemic needs to be
determined and justified in terms of actual health effectors, rather than
according to risk factors based upon stereotypes that present a bias or
prejudice towards others.
Doctors, as health care
providers, diagnose patients and treat them as unique individuals. They do not
base their medical diagnostics upon risk factors related to stereotypes, even
though stereotyping may enter into the picture, at some point in time.
Be aware that if you are seeking
professional medical care, your doctor will perceive you as being a unique
individual. Your diagnosis and treatment will be determined in accordance with
the actual symptoms that you present, not in terms of some stereotypical
prejudice or bias.
Note that doctors and other
health care professionals have high moral and ethical standards. To diagnose or
treat you in any other way, could constitute a potential breach of a doctor's
professional code of ethics.
You are an individual with
basic human rights and should be diagnosed and treated as such, without fear of
being diagnosed according to risk factors related to stereotyping.
3. Ibid.
5. Ibid.
6. Ibid.
7. Ibid.
8. Op. Cit., Stereotype
9. Ibid.
10. Ibid.
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