Comments on: End-of-life care and the ‘race gap’ http://healthexecnews.com/end-of-life-care-and-the-race-gap Healthcare Management News and Insights Wed, 16 May 2012 23:08:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Denise McKissick http://healthexecnews.com/end-of-life-care-and-the-race-gap/comment-page-1#comment-455 Denise McKissick Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:38:28 +0000 http://healthexecnews.com/?p=408#comment-455 In response to Dr. Lovett: I, myself being black, have found that distrust doesn't play as much a role in the the decision as our deep-rooted faith does. The foundation for our mere existence comes from the confidence that we have in an almighty powerful and loving GOD that can turn any situation around if we don't waiver in our trust in him. Ultimately, we know that one day we will all have to die and there is a better life promised to us. Given that, we acknowledge the fact that GOD is always in control and since we don't have the power to create life, nor do we have any authority to decide when it should cease. I have witnessed in my own family where the doctor had given up hope but we as a family held firm to our belief and life was substained for many more fruitful years. Believe me when I say this is not always because of distrust or denial but from our historical faith commitment which enable us to endure and come out victorious through each generation. In response to Dr. Lovett:

I, myself being black, have found that distrust doesn’t play as much a role in the the decision as our deep-rooted faith does. The foundation for our mere existence comes from the confidence that we have in an almighty powerful and loving GOD that can turn any situation around if we don’t waiver in our trust in him. Ultimately, we know that one day we will all have to die and there is a better life promised to us. Given that, we acknowledge the fact that GOD is always in control and since we don’t have the power to create life, nor do we have any authority to decide when it should cease. I have witnessed in my own family where the doctor had given up hope but we as a family held firm to our belief and life was substained for many more fruitful years. Believe me when I say this is not always because of distrust or denial but from our historical faith commitment which enable us to endure and come out victorious through each generation.

]]> By: T. Lovett, MD http://healthexecnews.com/end-of-life-care-and-the-race-gap/comment-page-1#comment-47 T. Lovett, MD Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:00:44 +0000 http://healthexecnews.com/?p=408#comment-47 In response to the next to last paragraph above: In my 11 years of experience as a hospitalist there is a vast difference in the way some black family's view end of life issues. Even if the patient themself requests hospice or comfort care, the family members may insist on more aggressive intervention and are sometimes antagonistic when I try to educate regarding the patient's wishes. I have attempted to research the reason for this disparity and have been informed it likely stems from the black community's deep (historically well deserved) distrust of the white medical establishment. In response to the next to last paragraph above:
In my 11 years of experience as a hospitalist there is a vast difference in the way some black family’s view end of life issues. Even if the patient themself requests hospice or comfort care, the family members may insist on more aggressive intervention and are sometimes antagonistic when I try to educate regarding the patient’s wishes.
I have attempted to research the reason for this disparity and have been informed it likely stems from the black community’s deep (historically well deserved) distrust of the white medical establishment.

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