Communication & Appropriate Behavior

The hoopla over Barack Obama’s minister, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, has caused me to reflect on a few things, like what good communication is and what it is not. I learned appropriate behavior early from my parents, my academic training and experience as a world-class athlete. Several years ago during my tenure as the Director of Diversity at the Medical University of South Carolina, I attended many sessions where I learned how to talk to women, the poor, and yes, even other African Americans. I learned that I had to develop effective communication skills with different groups of people if I were to be a successful physician. I also learned that patients do a lot better when the physician speaks with them and not at them. Even when it is not pleasant people appreciate straight talk. Rev. Jeremiah Wright is correct – “being different does not mean being deficient.” We all must work at understanding that while we are different – in race, culture, age, or gender, that these differences don’t make any of us deficient. It is a lesson in diversity and medicine that has not been consistently taught or learned.

Rev. Wright’s appearance at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. last week also reminded me of another lesson I learned long ago - that one’s ego can create havoc. An unfortunate display of ego will forever characterize and taint the good works this brilliant man has done during his ministry for his community. Many African Americans, white, old, young, and educated people, as well as blue-collar workers, democrats and others have their hopes set on Senator Barrack Obama becoming our next president. Rev. Wright’s missteps should not derail that effort. As physicians, we too must not let our ego get in the way of patient care.

One final point - there is no evidence that I am aware of that the U.S. Government started the HIV/AIDS epidemic. However, it is well documented that our United States Government, with the help of Tuskegee University and a few African Americans, did conduct an inappropriate long-term experiment on African American men with syphilis. The Government did not provide treatment to the men in the study despite the fact that a cure for the disease was known. President Bill Clinton apologized for the Government’s behavior in the Tuskegee Experiment.

I am Dr. Thaddeus John Bell --- Closing the Gap in Health Disparities for African Americans.

Bell Update Volume 3, Chapter 17

Copyright May 2008