Dear John,

We are relieved that soon we’ll have political leaders back in the White House who are actually willing to listen to science and evidence, and who won’t play politics with our health and well-being.

But make no mistake, this election was not a cure all or quick fix. We must reflect on the results of this election and interrogate the ways that white supremacy and deep-seated racism continues to harm us all—the ways it shows up in our systems, in our institutions, and in our communities.

Health care providers, who have taken an oath to “do no harm,” must do this introspective work as well by examining the part we play in sustaining and supporting these systems through practices that, in fact, do harm patients.

I want to share with you a piece I wrote recently, #WhiteCoatsForBlackLives — Addressing Physicians’ Complicity in Criminalizing Communities, which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The reality is that heath care providers make decisions every day impacting the lives of their patients, including the likelihood of a person becoming ensnared within the criminal legal system. Visits to an ob/gyn for care during pregnancy or abortion care are critical entry points giving providers a clear opportunity to disrupt these practices in support of patients and their families.

As we collectively celebrate this win in the White House, we must balance this moment with a need for our country to reckon with the reality of institutional racism and ongoing police violence against Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities. I believe physicians can play a critical role in dismantling the policies and practices that criminalize patients and perpetuate inequality.

I offer this article at this moment in time as an opportunity for us all—as health providers and allies— to engage in self-reflection and learning. I hope you’ll consider joining me in doing that.

Sincerely, 

Jamila Perritt, MD MPH FACOG
President & CEO