Bias is widespead on both sides of the political spectrum

Without doubt, the future of medicine will include mandatory education for physicians on their conscious and unconscious biases. The politically and culturally progressive nature of medical education and graduate medical education almost ensure that this will eventually be a deeply-ingrained part of our training and our continuing certification. I’m sure that as our culture purports to discover ever new and egregious forms of bias, we will be endlessly reminded, in our educational endeavors and ultimately our workplaces, that we have to “do better.” I only point to medicine because it is the world in which I spend a great deal of time. I have seen medicine evolve over the years, gradually and surely bending to political and cultural trends. Obviously, this tendency to address bias is to be found in every segment of education, and has crept ever so persistently into the corporate world. These days, dissent on political or cultural hot-button topics can lose a person connections, promotions, contracts, friends or even employment. Failing to follow the cultural mainstream can mean the end for a CEO, or a boycott for a corporation. I am in no way suggesting we can’t learn to be sensitive to the situations, backgrounds, cultures, and beliefs of others. But I think it is ridiculous to try and dig through our collective psyche for every instance of wrong-think, and subject the masses to collective re-education (however inclusive and delightful we try to make it sound...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - Category: General Medicine Authors: Tags: Physician Public Health & Policy Source Type: blogs