Mass General Brigham hospital addressing structural racism in reporting Black pregnant individuals for child abuse and neglect
Mass General Brigham hospital in Massachusetts is reevaluating its policies after finding that Black pregnant individuals were more likely to be reported for child abuse and neglect if a toxicology report came back positive, aiming to address structural racism in their system.
Key Points
- Black pregnant individuals more likely to be reported for child abuse and neglect if toxicology report is positive
- Hospital updating policies to avoid perpetuating structural racism
- New policy aligns with medical recommendations from ACOG
Pros
- Hospital is taking steps to reevaluate policies to avoid perpetuating structural racism
- Updating policies to provide more equitable care for all patients
Cons
- Policies may face resistance from those who do not see the need to address systemic racism in healthcare