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Engaging Social Justice Methods to Create Palliative Care Programs That Reflect the Cultural Values of African American Patients with Serious Illness and Their Families: A Path Towards Health Equity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2021

Ronit Elk  and
Shena Gazaway
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Abstract

Cultural values influence how people understand illness and dying, and impact their responses to diagnosis and treatment, yet end-of-life care is rooted in white, middle class values. Faith, hope, and belief in God’s healing power are central to most African Americans, yet life-preserving care is considered “aggressive” by the healthcare system, and families are pressured to cease it.

Keywords

Social Justice MethodsPalliative CareAfrican Americans EldersHealthcare DisparitiesCommunity Based Participatory Research
Type
Symposium Articles
Information
Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics , Volume 49 , Issue 2: Race and Ethnicity in 21st Century Health Care , Summer 2021 , pp. 222 - 230
Copyright
© 2021 The Author(s)

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