Clinical algorithms are meant to help doctors make better decisions. But when race is built into the math, they can deepen disparities—especially for Black patients in need of a kidney transplant.
In a recent PBS NOVA report, doctors revealed how race-based calculations have kept some patients from receiving timely care. One patient, Gregory, had test results that should have qualified him for a transplant evaluation. But because he was Black, the algorithm used by his doctors calculated his kidney function differently—delaying his access to life-saving treatment.
“If Gregory had the same test results but was white, he would’ve immediately qualified,” the narrator explained. Dr. Michelle Morse, Acting Commissioner of the New York City Health Department, questioned the logic: “There should be no reason why the physiological function of someone who’s Black would look different than the physiological function of someone who’s white.”
These algorithms often rely on outdated assumptions that treat race as a biological factor, rather than a social construct. The result is a system that systematically disadvantages minority patients, particularly Black Americans, who already face higher rates of kidney disease and lower access to transplants.
The report calls for urgent reform. Removing race from clinical algorithms is a critical step toward equity in organ allocation and broader health care access. As Dr. Morse emphasized, algorithms should guide care—not reinforce bias.
See: “How Algorithms Decide Who Gets a Kidney” (September 9, 2025)
