Question 1

African Americans can tolerate syphilis better than Caucasians.

Accepted Answer

This statement is false and perpetuates harmful and untrue racial stereotypes. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection that can have serious long-term health effects if left untreated, regardless of race or ethnicity. It is important to prioritize accurate and equitable healthcare for all individuals.

Question 2

Different cells in the same tissue are all genetically identical.

Accepted Answer

While cells in the same tissue may have similar functions and characteristics, they can have different gene expression patterns and epigenetic modifications, leading to differences in their genetic makeup.

Question 3

Neglecting to take into account sex differences in medicine can have serious consequences for patients.

Accepted Answer

Sex differences can impact the effectiveness and safety of medical treatments, as well as the diagnosis of certain diseases. Neglecting to consider these differences can result in harmful or ineffective treatments for patients.

Question 4

Race is a biological category.

Accepted Answer

Race is a social construct, not a biological category. While physical differences between groups of people exist, they have no inherent biological or genetic significance. The way people are categorized into racial groups has varied throughout history and across cultures.

Question 5

Precision medicine aims to tailor treatment to specific cohorts of people.

Accepted Answer

Precision medicine aims to tailor treatment to individual patients based on their genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors, rather than to specific cohorts of people.

Question 6

Sex differences are more like a spectrum than a binary system.

Accepted Answer

While society often views sex as a binary system (male or female), the reality is more complex. There are a range of physical, hormonal, and genetic differences between individuals that can lead to diverse expressions of sex. Additionally, gender identity and expression are not necessarily aligned with a person's biological sex. Thus, it is more accurate to view sex differences as existing on a spectrum rather than a simple binary classification.

Question 7

The Tuskegee Syphilis Study secured the informed consent of its participants.

Accepted Answer

The Tuskegee Syphilis Study did not secure informed consent from its participants. In fact, participants were misled and denied proper treatment for their illness.

Question 8

Gender norms can affect health outcomes.

Accepted Answer

Gender norms can impact health outcomes in many ways such as the promotion of unhealthy behaviors and the social stigmatization of certain conditions. For example, men may be more likely to engage in risky behaviors such as heavy drinking or ignoring symptoms of illnesses because it is seen as "masculine". Women may be more likely to bear the burden of caregiving responsibilities leading to increased stress and health problems. These gendered expectations can have negative consequences on health outcomes.

Question 9

Medical treatments for women are often based on a male model.

Accepted Answer

Historically, medical treatments and research have been largely focused on men, and women have been excluded or underrepresented in clinical trials. This has resulted in many medical treatments and procedures that may not work as well for women as they do for men, due to differences in physiology, hormonal influences, and other factors. However, efforts are being made to address this imbalance and improve healthcare for women.

Question 10

Race-based medicine has been defended as a step toward personalized medicine.

Accepted Answer

Proponents of race-based medicine argue that recognizing and incorporating genetic differences among different races/ethnicities can lead to more personalized and effective medical treatments for individuals within those groups. However, this approach also has its critics who argue that it can reinforce harmful racial stereotypes and overlook the significant genetic diversity that exists within racial groups.

Question 11

Gender differences are more like a spectrum than a binary system.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Gender differences are more like a spectrum...

Question 12

There is evidence that sexual orientation has a genetic component.

Accepted Answer

The answer of There is evidence that sexual orientation has...

Question 13

Differential medical outcomes between men and women are solely the result of sex differences.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Differential medical outcomes between men and women...

Question 14

Men and woman are biologically opposite to each other.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Men and woman are biologically opposite to...

Question 15

Social categories of race are a poor proxy for genetic differences.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Social categories of race are a poor...

Deck 10: Medicine in a Pluralistic Society