Racial and ethnic minorities in the U.S. are significantly more likely to be misdiagnosed, according to recent research published in JAMA Internal Medicine and BMJ Quality & Safety. The studies reveal that nearly 800,000 patients each year die or suffer permanent disability due to diagnostic errors, with minority patients 20% to 30% more likely to be affected.
Misdiagnosis rates vary widely—1.5% for heart attacks, 17.5% for strokes, and 22.5% for lung cancers. But the disparities are most pronounced among minority patients. Black and Hispanic individuals are more likely to be discharged without diagnosis or treatment for heart attacks. Minority patients with depression are more often misdiagnosed with schizophrenia. Early-stage dementia is less frequently identified in minority populations, limiting access to effective treatments.
Researchers point to language and cultural barriers as major contributors. Medical professionals under pressure may rely on biased assumptions, and the lack of diversity in medical literature—where diseases are often illustrated using non-Hispanic white patients—further complicates accurate diagnosis.
“The vast majority of diagnoses can be made by getting to know the patient’s story really well,” said one researcher. Yet many patients report that “the doctor didn’t listen to me.”
Maternal mortality also reflects this trend. Minority mothers are 2.6 times more likely to die than white mothers, with more than half of these deaths occurring within a year after delivery.
See: “Study: Minority Patients Significantly More Likely to Receive Misdiagnosis” (March 19, 2024)
