Objective: The objective of this study was to determine racial bias in patient selection of an obstetrician.
Methods: Obstetrical patients referred for genetic counseling at a community hospital were included. Self-reported patient race/ethnicity were compared with obstetrician's race/ethnicity.
Results: The patient population (n = 1,519) was 27.8% white, 25% Hispanic, 22.5% black, 20.5% Asian, and 4.3% other. Physician race/ethnicity was 47.8% white, 28.8% Asian, 14.4% Hispanic, and 9% black. Patient race/ethnicity and physician race/ethnicity were correlated (contingency coefficient = 0.54, P < 0.001). White and Asian patients were more likely to select obstetricians of their own racial background (72.7% and 66.6%) than were Hispanic or black patients (36% and 24.6%, P < 0.001). Patients of all races were more likely to be under the care of a physician of their own race than of a different race.
Conclusions: In an urban community with a racially diverse population, there is a strong racial bias in patient selection of an obstetrician.