The American Medical Association and Race

Addressing Racial Biases in Medicine: A Review of the Literature, Critique, and Recommendations

“…103 This epitome of professions has been led by the powerful AMA – an organization that supported, until recently, the segregation of physicians by race since its inception. The AMA policy of relegating admission decisions to local societies and thus distancing itself from the decisions was “pivotal in creating a 2-tiered system of medicine in the American South and border states – racially divided, separate, and unequal.” 104 (para. 17 ) Because of AMA policy, the organization could on one hand condemn the persecution of persons based on race or religion, while tolerating racial exclusion within its ranks.…”

“…17 ) Because of AMA policy, the organization could on one hand condemn the persecution of persons based on race or religion, while tolerating racial exclusion within its ranks. Thus, the institutional racism of the AMA “insidiously cloaked the racial discrimination” of the organization 104 (para. 21 ) and its members.…”

“…It was not until 2008 that the confession and apology came for the AMA’s complicity in and tolerance for racial discrimination within the medical society. 104,105 In that same year, the AMA finally threatened to expel organizations for racial prohibitions. 106…”