Mother Jones investigation: spirometers still use slavery-era "race correction" harming Black patients
A built-in race adjustment in standard lung-function tests, based on debunked assumptions about Black anatomy, is still used by most US hospitals.
What to know
- Standard spirometer tests used to diagnose lung disease apply a race-based correction factor.
- The correction is based on debunked assumptions about Black anatomy with origins traced to slavery-era medical claims.
- Most US hospitals reportedly still use the equation despite it being discredited, raising concerns about misdiagnosis and undertreatment of Black patients.
“In medical school, Aaron Baugh, like most doctors in training, was taught that Black people have smaller lungs than white people.”
Mother Jones, Article text · Mother Jones · Aug 28
Aaron Baugh Physician featured in the investigation
The record 4 articles and posts · last 27 days
What people are saying 3 voices from 2 sites · best of 4 · verbatim
- Aug 29
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The spirometer, used to help doctors diagnose lung disease, had a so-called race equation built into it. It was drawn from assumptions about the anatomy of Black people that were false and based on “science” traced back to American slavery. Why are hospitals around the US still using it?
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The Race Equation https://www. motherjones.com/politics/2026/ 08/race-equation-black-patients-misdiagnosis-spirometer-lung-capacity-medical-testing/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon via @MotherJones
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A “race equation” baked into a standard medical test is hurting Black patients, but most hospitals are still using it https://www. motherjones.com/politics/2026/ 08/race-equation-black-patients-misdiagnosis-spirometer-lung-capacity-medical-testing/?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub Posted into Mother Jones: Recent Coverage @…