American Academy of Pediatrics Commits to Eliminate Race-based Medicine

In a Pediatrics Perspective, the Board of Directors for the American Academy of Pediatrics highlights its efforts to eliminate race-based medicine and bias by condemning the improper use of race as a factor in disease risk rather than as a social construct. The article, pre-published online Thursday, Aug. 5, observes that race is not a biological category that produces health disparities due to genetic differences but is a social category that can have devastating biological consequences as a result of bias, discrimination and vulnerability. As part of the AAP Equity Agenda, which commits to pursuing equity, diversity, and inclusion in all practices and writings, the Board in May voted unanimously to immediately retire the guidance “Urinary Tract Infection: Clinical Practice Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of the Initial UTI in Febrile Infants and Children 2 to 24 Months” due to improper use of race as a factor in disease risk. The AAP has also directed authors to consider whether use of racial or ethnic categories in models, analyses, and selection of comparison groups is explicitly justified when reviewing literature. The AAP also developed “Words Matter” guidance that encourages use of inclusive, anti-biased language to mitigate and combat bias, remove stigma, and avoid stereotypes. All AAP authors are now required to consider health inequities and the conditions needed to achieve equitable health outcomes when developing policy.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.