WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — Doctors gave senators a diagnosis: mothers and minority communities need healthcare support.
“One maternal death is too many,” Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) said.
“In America today, we have the highest maternal mortality rate and the highest infant mortality rate of any other wealthy country on Earth,” Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said.
Sanders says minority women have especially suffered because there is a lack of representation in healthcare.
“Many Americans would say there’s a physician. What difference does that make? White, Black, Latino? Who cares, as long as it’s a good doctor. What difference does it make?” Sanders asked.
“You don’t understand the perspectives and the concerns of people from other races as well as they do for themselves,” Dr. Samuel Cook with Morehouse School of Medicine said.
Healthcare professionals say many barriers in place prevent minorities from getting into the medical field, like the cost.
“If there was a way to offset the cost, we could increase the numbers,” Dr. Brian Stone, Jasper Urology Associates President said.
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) says representation will help lead to a more diverse medical field in the future.
“How do we light that same flame in others?” Cassidy asked.
“They can see someone that looks like them in a space where typically you don’t see minorities,” Jaines Andrades, Baystate Health Nurse Practitioner replied.
Sen. Bob Casey (D-Penn.) says Congress needs to take steps to provide a better life for minority and disadvantaged kids, to possibly guide them down this path.
“Every child has those five health, the opportunity to learn, economic security, freedom from hunger and to be safe. We will have a much different outcome on all these issues,” Casey said.
