Explicit Bias in “ Implicit Bias Training” and Legal Quagmires in California—Is Caste Training Next With SB 403?

A recent legal challenge has been mounted against California's requirement for doctors to undergo "implicit bias" training as part of their continuing medical education. The lawsuit, filed by the medical advocacy group Do No Harm (DNH) and two physicians, Dr. Marilyn Singleton and Dr. Azadeh Khatibi, contends that the training promotes inaccurate beliefs and violates the fundamental principle of "doing no harm” in that it promotes racism. The controversy stems from the idea that such training could inadvertently lead to an atmosphere of suspicion and animosity among medical professionals and their patients.

The Implicit Bias Training Requirement

In 2019, California enacted a law mandating that physicians complete implicit bias training courses as part of their continuing medical education. The goal of this requirement was to address health disparities based on demographic characteristics such as race, gender, and sexual orientation. The concept of “implicit bias” suggests that healthcare professionals may unintentionally treat patients differently based on these factors, leading to unequal treatment and outcomes.

"The implicit bias requirement promotes the inaccurate belief that white individuals are naturally racist," Dr. Singleton, a Los Angeles anesthesiologist, said. "This message can be detrimental to medical professionals and their patients as it creates an atmosphere of suspicion and animosity, which goes against the fundamental principle of doing no harm."

In fact, it’s bad policies like the aforementioned training courses that drive legal action to fight against race and caste identity in the United States.

The Lawsuit's Rationale

According to the lawsuit filed against the Medical Board of California, the implicit bias training requirement forces physicians to embrace a particular ideology without solid evidence to support its effectiveness. Singleton argues that the training perpetuates the inaccurate belief that white individuals are inherently racist, leading to a potentially harmful atmosphere of suspicion and animosity. The lawsuit also highlights research indicating that these trainings can have adverse effects, causing counterproductive emotions such as anger, frustration, and resentment among those taking part.

The Importance of Evidence-Based Consensus

The crux of the legal challenge lies in the lack of evidence-based consensus regarding the effectiveness of implicit bias training in reducing health disparities. While the intentions behind such training are noble—to create a more equitable healthcare system—the absence of concrete evidence raises concerns about its impact on medical professionals and patient care.

The Debate on Health Disparities

Advocates of implicit bias training argue that it is essential to address health disparities and ensure equal treatment for all patients. They believe that recognizing and confronting implicit biases can lead to more equitable care and improved health outcomes. However, opponents contend that forcing physicians to undergo such training without sufficient scientific evidence is problematic and may have unintended consequences.

Is Caste Training Next?

As the legal battle unfolds, striking a balance between addressing health disparities and respecting individual rights is of paramount importance. While no one disputes the necessity of tackling health disparities, the implementation of policies and training programs must be rooted in evidence-based practices and consensus.

This is the exact argument presented by Indian Americans fighting Caste Laws like SB 403. There is a bounty hunter syndrome in the DEI training underlying the embedment of Caste in the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Despite conflict-of-interest concerns, Equality Labs seems to be all prepped up with their training manual which is already showing explicit bias as shown in position letters submitted to lawmakers as well as in social media discussions.

The legal challenge against California's implicit bias training requirement for medical professionals and the explicit racism it promotes is a forewarning to Indian Americans that this is an impending unsafe environment for those in medical fields, educational institutions, or even in corporate. In the name of DEI training, laws like SB 403 will institutionalize bias against a vast majority of Indian American workers in Silicon Valley.

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