The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has released a report uncovering systemic racial discrimination at the Duke University School of Medicine. The investigation, spanning three years, documented inequitable treatment of Black patients, including delayed care and inadequate pain management, violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.

OCR’s findings demand accountability: Duke must implement comprehensive bias‑training, revise clinical protocols, and establish an independent oversight board. The university’s leadership has pledged a $5 million reparative fund for affected patients and a public commitment to transparent reporting.

These measures reflect a broader call for justice in health systems, underscoring that institutional accountability is essential to dismantle entrenched inequities and restore trust in medical care.

Source: HHS.gov