- Explain what Tressie McMillan Cottom means when she says that US health care systems assume black women's incompetence? Use specifics from the author’s argument as you summarize the main points.
- As she conveys the story, how might Cottom's pregnancy have been different had the health care workers involved read her as competent? What would have changed? Name the differences in detail and explain with specifics.
- Name some A. stereotypes and B. structural features of modern health care that, according to Kidd & Carel, C. make patients especially vulnerable to epistemic injustice?
- One kind of epistemic injustice in health care is testimonial injustice. A. Define testimonial injustice. B. Give an example of testimonial injustice from Cottom, Kidd & Carel. C. Explain what makes this example a testimonial injustice.
- Another kind epistemic injustice in health care is hermeneutical injustice. A. Define hermeneutical injustice. B. Give an example of hermeneutical injustice from Cottom, Kidd & Carel. C. Explain what makes it hermeneutical injustice.
Tressie McMillan Cottom means when she says that US health care systems assume black women's incompetence
Full Answer Section
Example of Hermeneutical Injustice from Cottom, Kidd & Carel
In their article "Hermeneutical Injustice in Clinical Care," Cottom, Kidd, and Carel (2019) provide an example of hermeneutical injustice in the context of chronic pain management. They discuss the case of a patient with chronic pain who was repeatedly dismissed by healthcare providers who attributed their symptoms to psychological factors rather than a physical condition. As a result, the patient's pain was not adequately managed, and they experienced significant emotional distress.
Why it is Hermeneutical Injustice
The case of the patient with chronic pain exemplifies hermeneutical injustice because the patient's experiences were not adequately understood or validated by healthcare providers. The providers' limited knowledge and understanding of chronic pain, coupled with their biases towards psychological explanations, led to a misinterpretation of the patient's symptoms. This misinterpretation resulted in inadequate treatment and significant harm to the patient.
The lack of shared resources or frameworks for interpretation in this case contributed to the hermeneutical injustice. The healthcare providers did not have a sufficient understanding of chronic pain, and they did not possess the cultural sensitivity to appreciate the patient's unique experiences. As a result, the patient was unable to effectively communicate their experiences, and their pain was not adequately addressed.
Hermeneutical injustice in healthcare can have significant consequences for patients, including:
- Misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment
- Delayed diagnosis and treatment
- Inadequate pain management
- Emotional distress and suffering
- Erosion of trust in healthcare providers
Addressing hermeneutical injustice in healthcare requires a multifaceted approach that includes:
- Enhancing healthcare providers' education and training on a broad range of medical conditions, including chronic pain
- Promoting cultural sensitivity and diversity training among healthcare providers
- Empowering patients to advocate for themselves and effectively communicate their experiences
- Fostering an inclusive and patient-centered healthcare environment
By addressing hermeneutical injustice, we can work towards ensuring that all patients receive the care they need and deserve, regardless of their background or experiences.
Sample Answer
Hermeneutical Injustice in Healthcare
Hermeneutical injustice is a type of epistemic injustice that occurs when someone is unable to understand or express their own experiences due to a lack of shared resources or frameworks for interpretation. In the context of healthcare, hermeneutical injustice can arise when patients' experiences are not recognized or validated by healthcare providers due to limited knowledge, understanding, or sensitivity to the patient's cultural background, social context, or personal experiences.