Discrimination in Health and Care Services

Describe the potential effects of discriminatory practice on those who use health or social care services.Discrimination in Health and Care Services

Discrimination has the potential to affect individuals in wide-ranging ways. In health and social care, the effects of discrimination can be catastrophic and even end in the death of a service user. Anyone planning a career in health and social care should be aware of the potential negative effects caused by discrimination. We will explore them here. Marginalisation As you might expect, marginalisation means being pushed to the margins of society.

Marginalisation can occur at both micro and macro levels. Governments have been accused of marginalising groups of the population in terms of their health and social care needs. Disempowerment People who are discriminated against (especially by powerful groups in society such as health care professionals) are often totally disempowered. This means they are not able to take action Individuals can be disempowered through another form of discrimination – ‘the health worker knows best’ syndrome.Discrimination in Health and Care Services

Low self-esteem and self-identity If we have high self-esteem and self-worth, it means that we appreciate our own worth and value ourselves highly. Conversely then, having low self-esteem means that we feel helpless and powerless to cope and can even feel depressed. People who are discriminated against are in real danger of developing low self-esteem, which can lead to them being unable to cope with life’s challenges and changes.