Doctors Without Disability Awareness: The Role of Medical Training in a Profound Healthcare Barrier for People with Disabilities

Abstract

"People with disabilities (PWD) constitute the largest minority group in the United States. An estimated 1 in 4 adults live with a disability. As the population of PWD grows, medical staff must meet their unique needs and provide the equitable, accessible, quality care afforded by their rights. To inform the development of disability-inclusive medical training standards, this review highlights physician bias as a profound barrier to healthcare for PWD. The vague cultural competency standards set by The United States Liaison Committee on Medical Education lead to inconsistent, inadequate, and, sometimes, nonexistent disability awareness training. Consequently, physicians are ill-equipped to recognize prejudice or systemic bias that views disability as an individual tragedy to be fixed or cured. Ultimately, healthcare disparities for PWD and evidence of physicians' and students' negative attitudes reveal the state of medical education in the United States, demonstrating the crucial role medical training plays in promoting equitable healthcare."