The prejudices of good people

doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7454.1448

BMJ 2004;328:1448-1449 (19 June), doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7454.1448

Editorial

The prejudices of good people

Leadership is needed to combat continued institutional racism

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

If it is only bad people who are prejudiced, that would nothave such a strong effect. Most people would not wish to imitatethem—and so, such prejudices would not have much effect—exceptin exceptional times. It is the prejudices of good people thatare so dangerous.

Vikram Seth. A suitable boy. London: Phoenix, 1993.

In October 1998 a young black man, David "Rocky" Bennett, diedwhile under the care of the NHS at a psychiatric secure unitin Norwich. An inquiry team led by a retired high court judge,John Blofeld, found that Mr Bennett, who had schizophrenia,was killed by being held face down on the floor for 28 minutesby at least four mental health nurses. He had been restrainedwith unacceptable force after he punched a nurse, believingthat he was being racially victimised. Apart from investigatingthe circumstances of Mr Bennett's death, the inquiry . . . [Full text of this article]

Aneez Esmail, vice-president

Medical Practitioners Union, MSF Centre, London SE1 3UD (aneez.esmail@man.ac.uk)

CiteULike

Complore

Connotea

Del.icio.us Add to Digg

Digg

StumbleUpon Add to Technorati

Technorati What's this?

Relevant Article

Should Muslims have faith based health services?: Aneez Esmail
BMJ 2007 334: 75. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

Esmail, A. (2007). Should Muslims have faith based health services?. BMJ 334: 75-75 [Full text]

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

"not a single leader of the medical profession has taken on the task of lancing this festering abscess.": Jay Ilangaratne
bmj.com, 19 Jun 2004 [Full text]
Racial discrimination: global implications: Dr.Naseem A. Qureshi MD, IMAPA, LMIPS
bmj.com, 19 Jun 2004 [Full text]
THE COLOURS OF THE RAINBOW: Rita Pal
bmj.com, 20 Jun 2004 [Full text]
Racial discrimination in the NHS: Pradeep Mishra
bmj.com, 21 Jun 2004 [Full text]
Racism, stupid!: mohammad I khalid
bmj.com, 21 Jun 2004 [Full text]
Re: THE COLOURS OF THE RAINBOW: Sanjay M Rajpara
bmj.com, 23 Jun 2004 [Full text]
The prejudices of good people: Malila Noone
bmj.com, 23 Jun 2004 [Full text]
Re: Racism, stupid!: Rita Pal
bmj.com, 23 Jun 2004 [Full text]
Re: Re: THE COLOURS OF THE RAINBOW: Pal Rita
bmj.com, 23 Jun 2004 [Full text]
racism, yes and no: NANCY K O'CONNOR
bmj.com, 13 Aug 2004 [Full text]
No matter what their race or the colour of their skin: Dr. Herbert H. Nehrlich
bmj.com, 15 Aug 2004 [Full text]