The History of the Spirometer

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The spirometer is a medical device that measures various parameters of lung function. Unlike the pulse oximeter, which can give inaccurate readings based on skin tone, the spirometer requires you to actively input race as a variable. The colour of someone's skin is entirely irrelevant to the way the spirometer works. It simply measures volumes of air expelled from lungs in different contexts.

When COVID-19 hit it didn't kill indiscriminately. In the US, being Black, Hispanic, or Native American meant you had a much greater risk of death than if you were white. And these disparities are mirrored across the world.

In this episode we explore the complex tale behind this disparity. Throughout history, racism and biases have been embedded within medical technology, along the clinicians who use it. Cultural concepts of race have been falsely conflated with biology. The way medicine is taught, has reinforced flawed stereotypes. Disease itself, has been racialised. All of this adds up to barriers to care and worse health outcomes for many people, just because of the colour of their skin.

Science and scientists have played an influential part in embedding such racism into medicine But by challenging received wisdom science too has the power to right wrongs, and work towards solutions.

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