CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The top editor of the Journal of the American Medical Association is resigning following outrage in the medical community over comments made about racism by a deputy editor.
During a podcast, Deputy Editor Dr. Edward Livingston, who’s white, said structural racism no longer exists in medicine.
“Structural racism is an unfortunate term,” said Dr. Livingston, during the podcast, The New York Times reported. “Personally, I think taking racism out of the conversation will help. Many people like myself are offended by the implication that we are somehow racist.”
There was a tweet promoting the now-deleted podcast that read, “No physician is racist, so how can there be structural racism in health care?”
Livingston has since resigned.
And now the Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Howard Bauchner, will step down at the end of the month, according to the Sun-Times.
"Comments made in the podcast were inaccurate, offensive, hurtful, and inconsistent with the standards of JAMA. Racism and structural racism exist in the United States and in health care," he said.
He said while he had nothing to do with the podcast, he’s ultimately responsible.
“I remain profoundly disappointed in myself for the lapses that led to the publishing of the tweet and podcast,” Dr. Bauchner said. “Although I did not write or even see the tweet, or create the podcast, as editor-in-chief, I am ultimately responsible for them.”
According to the American Medical Association, JAMA Executive Editor Dr. Phil Fontanarosa will serve as interim editor-in-chief until a new editor is appointed.
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