The Healthcare Side of Social Justice: Why Advocacy Belongs in Medicine

Ria Sharma
2 hours ago
4 min read

Unfortunately, today’s world is not perfect. Not even close.

In the United States, injustice runs rampant. Injustices are unfair systems that create inequities, systemic differences between social groups, which lead to inequalities, unequal access to resources. Some inequalities in the US are its high incarceration rates, its 88% increase in child labor violations, its high elderly American poverty rate, and its wealth inequality where 93% of all stocks are owned by the top 10%. In order to combat the injustices that ultimately cause these issues, it is crucial to champion social justice movements to ensure equity and fairness for rights and opportunities.

But why does advocacy belong in medicine?

While there is criminal, economic, and educational reform, there are many aspects of social justice. A particularly overlooked component of it is health justice and healthcare advocacy. Today, we will uncover the source of these health inequities, the advocacy that can occur, and careers related to the healthcare side of social justice.

The root cause of health inequities lies in the social determinants of health (SDOH). These are the daily living conditions that significantly impact an individual’s quality of life; some examples include safe housing, stable employment, food security, and access to quality education. Yet, these determinants are commonly unequally distributed across groups which causes some communities to experience worse health outcomes than others. According to The Future of Nursing 2020-2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity found in the National Library of Medicine, low-income populations and especially those of color frequently encounter higher rates of chronic diseases and limited access to healthcare. Additionally, Harvard Medical School found that SDOH account for approximately 80-90% of the factors impacting an individual’s health and well-being.

Given the severity of this issue, the importance of health justice becomes clear. This is the essential effort to promote equal access to healthcare resources for each and every person.

As such, healthcare professionals—and future health professionals—play a uniquely significant role in healthcare advocacy on both a large and small scale. The American Medical Association (AMA), the largest medical association, published their Declaration of Professional Responsibility which emphasizes that the true patient of healthcare is humanity. The AMA also asserts that healthcare providers should advocate for political changes to advance well-being; yet, direct advocacy is not an obligation.

The direct healthcare advocacy that is present in the large-scale political advocacy can be achieved in 3 steps.

Address SDOH disparities. Pay attention to the relationship between public health laws and healthcare as social and economic policies routinely impact community health. Identify policies that reinforce or deconstruct institutionalized bias.
Support community-based strategies. Many organizations such as Harvard’s Cambridge Health Alliance or White Coats for Black Lives campaign for equal access to healthcare treatment by striving to eliminate discrimination. Endorse such groups to connect with the community and stand with them.
Influence public policy. Focus on policymakers and government officials as they shape various characteristics of healthcare like health insurance, medication regulation, and public health guidelines. Advocate for widespread provisions that prioritize distributive justice—the equitable distribution of resources and protections in accordance with communities’ needs.

Rather than policy-level efforts advocacy, healthcare professionals should also promote health justice in a smaller, more intimate way when treating patients. The American Academy of Family Physicians developed a 3-step process that is applicable for all medical professionals. This is small-scale advocacy.

Ask. Healthcare providers should ask and screen patients for social needs and factors impacting their health. Throughout these conversations, create a safe space for patients to share their concerns.
Identify. Conduct research on local programs to address patient challenges. These may include mental health support, housing assistance, or food banks. Contact social workers or community organizations to find effective resources for the patient’s unique circumstances.
Act. Connect patients with these services. Follow up with patients to determine if they’ll require additional assistance. Be willing to advocate for systemic change if local resources are lacking.

Regardless of whether medical professionals advocate for health justice on a large or small scale, each provider must guide health reform through their individual mindset. This begins with introspective reflection of one’s own experiences of SDOH, health inequities, and implicit biases. Next, become a lifelong learner by maintaining an open mind to gain knowledge and new perspectives from others. Finally, develop a culture of inclusivity by critically considering how one’s actions influence others and how to improve their quality of life.

Furthermore, there are several healthcare careers whose responsibility is to advocate for equitable healthcare access for all.

One such career is that of public or community health workers. These individuals are the liaisons between communities and healthcare systems. They advocate for underserved populations by encouraging policies that promote well-being by preventing diseases.
Another career that specifically provides patients with customized assistance in navigating the healthcare system is a healthcare advocate. These medical professionals educate, guide, and help patients access healthcare to ensure that their needs are met and their rights are protected. This can take the form of reviewing medical bills, explaining medical information, advising health insurance plans, and even coordinating patient transfers.

While the world is not perfect, social justice efforts around the globe bring humanity one step closer. Healthcare advocacy is the responsibility of all health professions to advance health equity, either by means of large-scale, small-scale, or individual advocacy. Ultimately, health justice is indispensable. Advocacy benefits current and future patients—proving that advocacy truly belongs in medicine.