The American Academy of Pediatrics says it is putting all its guidance under the microscope to eliminate “race-based” medicine.
“What makes this so monumental is the fact that this is a medical institution and it’s not just words. They’re acting,” James said.
Last year, the academy retired a guideline calculation based on the unproven idea that Black children faced lower risks than white kids for urinary infections. A review had shown that the strongest risk factors were prior urinary infections and fevers lasting more than 48 hours, not race, Wright said.
Dr. Nia Heard-Garris, head of an academy group on minority health and equity and a pediatrician at Chicago’s Lurie Children’s Hospital, noted that the new policy includes a brief history “of how some of our frequently used clinical aids have come to be — via pseudoscience and racism.”“This violates our oath as physicians — to do no harm — and as such should not be used,″ Heard-Garris said.