Each year, 12 million American adults are misdiagnosed, and the consequences can be devastating. A recent report highlights that women and racial minorities are 20% to 30% more likely to receive incorrect or delayed diagnoses, often resulting in serious harm or death.
Misdiagnosis rates vary by condition—just 1.5% for heart attacks, but a staggering 17.5% for strokes and 22.5% for lung cancers. These errors are especially dangerous when time-sensitive treatment is critical. One study found that nearly one in four hospital patients who died or were transferred to intensive care had experienced a diagnostic error.
For minority patients, the problem goes deeper than access. Even when treated at the same hospitals as white patients, people of color are less likely to be correctly diagnosed. Physicians, under pressure and influenced by unconscious bias, may feel less confident diagnosing women and minorities, leading to hesitation or inaction.
Medical tools and literature also contribute. Pulse oximeters, which measure oxygen levels, are less accurate for people with darker skin. Skin conditions like melanoma and Lyme disease often present differently in patients of color, yet medical images and training materials overwhelmingly depict white skin.
The report urges doctors and hospitals to recognize bias and adapt diagnostic methods to serve all patients equitably. “Bias is not an excuse,” it states. “It’s the medical profession’s responsibility to take bias into account and compensate appropriately.”
See: “Misdiagnosis More Common in Women and Minorities” (June 28, 2024)