Post-Surgery Pain Care: A Racial Divide

Having major surgery. You might expect the best care to manage your pain afterward. But new research shows Black patients are less likely to get the top-notch treatment they deserve. Instead of using a combination of pain medicines that experts say work better and reduce the risk of addiction, many Black patients are just given opioid pills. This isn't fair, and it needs to change. A study at Johns Hopkins Hospital found that Black patients were 74% more likely to get opioids and 29% less likely to get the best pain care after surgery. This isn't right, and it's important to figure out why this is happening. Maybe it's because of some hidden biases in the healthcare system.Dr. Eli Carrillo, an emergency physician, says it's crucial to understand how pain is managed after surgery. He thinks there should be a well-thought-out plan for every patient. But sometimes, patients don't get what they need. This can affect their quality of life and how they feel about getting healthcare in the future. Other studies have shown that Black patients often don't get the same level of pain care as others. This is unfair and can lead to bad outcomes. It's time to make sure everyone gets the care they need, no matter what their race is.