Dr. Ian Morris was the chief of the tropical disease department at the Bosan
School of Medicine. During his specialization, he discovered that African
American patients are more prone to a certain kind of tropical disease called
Xam. One day, a patient called Maya Jackson was admitted to the hospital.
She suffered from a disease that the other department doctors couldn’t
diagnose. Considering that she had recently travelled to the tropics and
back, she was then sent to the tropical disease department. Without tests,
Ian Morris proclaimed it was Xam and started her on the medication. Maya
recovered but when she heard that the doctor had administered the
medication without medical testing, she sued the Morris for racism. Morris,
she claimed, diagnosed the disease as Xam only because she was an African
American. If it hadn’t been for her skin color, he would have first done the
testing to determine what the disease was before administering medication.
What do you think? Is it scientific racism?

Question

Dr. Ian Morris was the chief of the tropical disease department at the Bosan 
School of Medicine. During his specialization, he discovered that African 
American patients are more prone to a certain kind of tropical disease called 
Xam. One day, a patient called Maya Jackson was admitted to the hospital. 
She suffered from a disease that the other department doctors couldn’t 
diagnose. Considering that she had recently travelled to the tropics and 
back, she was then sent to the tropical disease department. Without tests, 
Ian Morris proclaimed it was Xam and started her on the medication. Maya 
recovered but when she heard that the doctor had administered the 
medication without medical testing, she sued the Morris for racism. Morris, 
she claimed, diagnosed the disease as Xam only because she was an African 
American. If it hadn’t been for her skin color, he would have first done the 
testing to determine what the disease was before administering medication. 
What do you think? Is it scientific racism?

Ask a Philosopher · Accepted Answer

Ah, the intricacies of human judgment and their repercussions never cease to fascinate me. In this particular case, we find ourselves grappling with the question of whether the actions of Dr. Ian Morris can be defined as scientific racism. The crux of the matter lies in his diagnosis of Maya Jackson with the tropical disease known as Xam, without resorting to medical testing. Maya, in her bitter outcry, asserts that Morris only arrived at this diagnosis due to her African American identity, insinuating that had she possessed a different skin color, the doctor would have pursued a more methodical approach in determining her ailment.

Before dissecting this issue further, it is imperative that we delve into the concept of scientific racism itself. What precisely does it entail? Scientific racism, as espoused by misguided individuals throughout history, seeks to justify discriminatory practices by utilizing scientific methodologies. It is the dangerous belief that human worth, intelligence, and capabilities can be delineated and stratified based on racial variances. In our present case, it implies that Dr. Ian Morris, albeit harboring medical expertise, directed his diagnosis solely in accordance with the racial background of Maya Jackson, manifesting a blatant manifestation of scientific racism.

Yet, let us not be hasty in rendering a final verdict. We must consider the context within which this event transpired. Here we have Dr. Morris, chief of the tropical disease department, a man immersed in the field of tropical diseases day in and day out, thus possessing a wealth of knowledge at his disposal. His vast experience might have provided him with unique insights into the patterns and peculiarities of these diseases. It is within this realm that he observed a heightened prevalence of Xam among individuals of African American descent. Could it not be argued, then, that his immediate diagnosis of Xam in the case of Maya Jackson stemmed not from prejudiced leanings, but from a legitimate deduction based on observed trends? Surely, it is plausible that his experiences led him to conclude that the likelihood of Maya being afflicted with Xam was greater.

However, it is of utmost importance to recognize that the absence of medical testing in this situation does raise legitimate concerns. Testing serves as a vital tool in the realm of medicine, enabling physicians to achieve a higher degree of accuracy and certainty. It is through testing that they are able to refine their diagnoses, unravel hidden complexities, and ensure the most suitable course of treatment. By sidestepping this vital step, Dr. Morris undeniably compromised the integrity of his diagnosis, leaving room for apprehension and doubt.

Thus, we find ourselves at an impasse. On one hand, we have the argument that Dr. Morris's diagnosis was influenced by racial bias, attributing this to his neglect of the testing process. On the other hand, we have the contention that his extensive experience led him to an informed conclusion regarding Xam's prevalence among African American patients, rendering his decision not inherently racist but rather founded on observed patterns and probabilities.

In the face of such complexity, it is not for me, as a mere mortal, to definitively proclaim whether Dr. Ian Morris's actions constitute scientific racism. Instead, I beseech you, dear interlocutors, to ponder deeply upon this matter, mining the depths of your intellect and drawing insights from your own personal experiences. For it is through this thoughtful exploration that we shall inch closer to a semblance of truth, knowing full well that the path, as always, is strewn with multifarious perspectives and moral intricacies.