AMA Journal of Ethics

An orthopedic surgery physician’s experiences suggest strategies for addressing patients’ discriminatory behaviors or speech.

A “simplicity strategy” suggests expressing respect for persons and empathy and models inclusive group inquiry, epistemic humility, and justice.

This issue considers the ethical complexities of responding to patients’ unjust bias in individual patient encounters and of responding to patients’ requests for certain types of patient-clinician concordance.

Prevention efforts can marginalize patients by stigmatizing certain behaviors, so distinguishing individual professionals’ preferences about those behaviors is critical.

Patient-physician concordance is a matter of degree. In certain circumstances, greater concordance can motivate important goals of medicine.

Patient bias towards clinicians and employees in health care is common, but policy to address bias and support staff is relatively limited.

When patients express overt racism, caregivers need to feel safe and supported. The scope of organizations’ responsibilities to make that happen needs to be clearly defined.

Affect labeling during painful bias incidents helps caregivers identify their duties to patients while enabling their own healing.

Correctional facilities’ physician employees are at risk for burnout, posttraumatic stress, and suicide. Prison reform should address needs of inmates and staff.

Concrete protocols for supporting trainees include convening team meetings, tracking bias incidents, collecting data, and initiating protective changes in culture.