Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Not Registering Ethnic Origin of Patients Increases Medical Risks


Out of fear of being perceived as discriminating, medical doctors have not been noting the ethnic origin of patients in their medical files. The Organization for Clinical Genetics – Netherlands (VKNG) has written to the deputy minister of health saying that this taboo both increases risks for patients and hampers scientific research. As certain illnesses appear much more frequently in various ethnic groups, it hampers recognition of an illness if ethnicity has not been listed in the patient’s medical file.
www.parool.nl/nieuws/2008/MEI/13/bin2.html

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