Black children are significantly more likely than their White peers to be restrained during behavioral emergencies in hospitals, according to a new study that raises serious concerns about racial bias in pediatric care.
Published in Hospital Pediatrics, the study examined data from a large academic children’s hospital and found that Black patients had higher odds of being physically restrained, even when accounting for age, sex, and diagnosis. Researchers evaluated Behavioral Emergency Response Team (BERT) alerts over a nearly four-year period and discovered that Black children represented a disproportionate share of these high-stress incidents.
While BERT alerts are meant to ensure safety when children pose a danger to themselves or others, the data suggest that implicit bias may influence when and how they are used. “The disparities observed in this study are deeply concerning,” the authors wrote, highlighting the need for better staff training and protocols that minimize the influence of racial stereotypes.
The findings come at a time of increasing scrutiny over how hospitals respond to mental and behavioral health crises in children, particularly those from historically marginalized communities. With pediatric mental health needs on the rise, advocates worry that biased responses could fuel distrust and worsen outcomes for Black families seeking care.
By drawing attention to these disparities, the study calls on pediatric hospitals to examine their emergency protocols and ensure equitable treatment for all children, regardless of race.
See: “Behavioral Emergency Response Team Alert Outcomes Among Pediatric Patients by Race and Ethnicity” (March 24, 2024)
