America's Caste System / Caste issues in Silicon valley (17min) In this Planet Money episode, a short version of a longer podcast airing, we learn about the issue of caste discrimination happening here in the US - discrimination that has bridged an ocean to show up in Silicon Valley. This is a different way to view racial bias/racism - and it is connected to the larger conversation in the US (if interested, see here: https://www.npr.org/2020/08/04/898574852/its-more-than-racism-isabel-wilkerson-explains-america-s-caste-system). Contributor: Francesca CiminoOctober 24, 2020Topics: RacismKeywords: bias / caste / racism
Weight bias in health care This is a video created by UConn's Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity dramatizing the types of biases - overt and otherwise - that often occur for obese patients in the healthcare setting.
Contributor: Francesca CiminoJune 5, 2020Topics: Compassion Fatigue / Guilt & Shame / Obesity/WeightKeywords: bias / obesity / overweight / weight
A Gene for Alcohol Dependence? (2 min) Scientists may have narrowed down on a gene that seems to allow some people to metabolize alcohol more quickly, which may lead to a higher likelihood of dependence. What does this mean for how we manage this condition going forward?
Contributor: Francesca CiminoNovember 28, 2018Topics: Addiction / Burnout / PerspectiveKeywords: addiction / alcohol / bias / genetic
Withholding surgery: How gaps in policy fail people who inject drugs A recent New York Times article described a harrowing situation faced by some people who inject drugs and develop endocarditis, a life-threatening infection caused by bacteria that enter the bloodstream and settle in the heart. The article described doctors in Tennessee deciding whether to perform repeat costly heart surgeries on patients who were re-infected with endocarditis as a result of ongoing illicit drug use—and at times declining to operate. There are policy failures that are to blame, too, for how and why resources are allocated this way. This looks at those failures and how our bias influences both the policies and how they are applied. Contributor: Francesca CiminoOctober 3, 2018Topics: Addiction / Background info / Bias / Provider-Patient RelationshipKeywords: addiction / bias / opioid / policy
Cognitive bias - it's influence on clinical diagnosis Our clinical decisions are often influenced unconsciously by our thoughts and feelings; cognitive bias is one of the leading causes of diagnostic error. Here is a look at why and what to do about it.
Contributor: Francesca CiminoJuly 11, 2018Topics: Background info / Communication / Distraction/MindfulnessKeywords: bias / heuristics