Race-based Medicine

The sources of racial-ethnic minority group health disparities derive from a range of historical and current economic and political policies that promote socioeconomic disadvantage, the key determinant of health outcomes. Bidil is an FDA approved drug, to treat heart disease that is specifically targeted to one racial-ethnic group, despite the fact that clinical trials showed its general effectiveness. The FDA’s action can only be seen as giving tacit support to the idea of fundamental, genetic, differences between racial groups. These reductionist assumptions also likely explain the under-prescription of opioids to African-Americans. This thesis examines both developments and concludes with policy recommendations that include prohibitions on racially-targeted drugs and requirements medical educational that provide sounder understanding of human variation, and cultural competence.