Update
Medical Bias Training Bill Advances, With Focus on Maternal Health
Published
Legislation requiring bias-reduction training for doctors and nurses continues to advance in the General Assembly. SB 22, patroned by Senator Mamie Locke, advanced out of a Senate Education and Health subcommittee last week and was subsequently reported out of the full Senate Education and Health Committee. The bill now heads to the Senate floor for consideration.
The legislation requires that at least one unit of required training address bias in maternal health care, where disparities in treatment and outcomes remain stark.
A companion measure, HB 1147, patroned by Del. C.E. (Cliff) Hayes Jr., also passed through the Health Professions subcommittee of the House Health and Human Services Committee.
Supporters of the legislation have emphasized the real-world consequences of medical bias, including deeply personal testimony from Candi Mundon King, Secretary of the Commonwealth. King spoke about her daughter’s experience seeking care for sickle cell disease, describing how patients—particularly young people and patients of color—are too often dismissed when their pain is not taken seriously.
I can’t help but think that if a 15-year-old girl who looked differently than her was in a hospital crying and screaming that medication was not helping, would [she] be told to just take the medicine and give it time,
Candi Muldon King, in committee testimony
Staff from Virginia Poverty Law Center also testified in support of the legislation, which continues to move forward as lawmakers consider steps to address bias and improve accountability in health care.