2026/01/09 by Christopher L. Edwards, Ashley S. Membreno Lopez, Cara Green +31
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Medicine · Social Sciences · #Hemoglobinopathies and Related Disorders #Race, Genetics, and Society #Racial and Ethnic Identity Research
paper · doi:10.1016/j.jnma.2025.12.008
openalex publication_date 2026/01/09 · crossref created 2026/01/09 · openalex created_date 2026/01/10 · crossref deposited 2026/03/25 · crossref issued 2026/04/01 · crossref published 2026/04/01 · crossref published-print 2026/04/01 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/17 · crossref indexed 2026/08/01
Healthcare disparities in pain management represent one of the most persistent and pernicious manifestations of systemic bias within medicine. This comprehensive review examines the complex intersection of implicit bias, racial stigmatization, and clinical decision-making in the context of sickle cell disease, a predominantly African descent genetic disorder characterized by severe recurrent acute pain episodes and chronic pain that worsens with age. Through analysis of empirical research spanning psychosocial functioning, pain perception, healthcare utilization patterns, and provider attitudes, we demonstrate how societal-level prejudices become institutionalized within medical practice, resulting in systematic undertreatment of legitimate pain and inappropriate labeling of patients as drug-seeking. The current opioid crisis has paradoxically exacerbated these disparities, as heightened scrutiny of narcotic prescribing disproportionately affects minority patients who already face substantial barriers to adequate pain management. We argue that understanding the biopsychosocial complexity of sickle cell disease within its historical and social context is essential for dismantling discriminatory practices and achieving equitable healthcare delivery. This paper presents a framework for recognizing and addressing implicit bias in clinical settings while maintaining appropriate safeguards against prescription drug diversion. The implications extend beyond sickle cell disease to encompass broader questions about how societal inequities become embedded in medical practice and perpetuated through ostensibly objective clinical assessments.