The Inkspots on the Page

It’s no surprise African Americans still remain skeptical of medical trials and reasearch considering the psychological horror and long-term health effects of the Tuskegee Experiments and coercive sterilizations of early to mid-1900s.  A recent town hall meeting in Harlem widely attended by local leaders, patients, family members and health professionals from the five boroughs of New York as well as national experts, discussed the ongoing issues surrounding low participation of African Americans and Latinos in clinical trials.  Despite the potential positive advantages of participating in clinical trials, experts and advocates are fearful African Americans and Latinos will continue to have higher mortality rates of diseases such as, cancer, AIDS, stroke, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases.

In order to get the type of response and participation from minorities that is needed to improve mortality rates, the medical field needs to make a concerted effort to acknowledge past deeds through targeted campaigns and health advocates.  It is important to reach out to doctors in local communities and clinics to make sure patients and families aware of the benefits of clinical trials and medical research.  As noted,

“Evidence shows an increase in survival when minorities and underserved patients have someone to guide them through a fragmented health care system,” Dr. Freeman stated. “By navigating patients around barriers to quality care, navigators actually help ensure that patients are not shortchanged in their options, including have access to clinical studying providing either standard treatment or something believed to be better.”