On Point with Juandolyn Stokes held its third panel discussion on "The Criminalization of Black and Brown Doctors- Women's Edition." The first and second panel discussions were in February and March of this year. This panel discussion was unique because we invited both a Congresswoman and Senator, neither of which participated. The goal of this discussion was to offer ideas for legislation to decriminalize the practice of medicine for Black and Brown doctors.
This panel included: Belinda Parker Brown, CEO and Co-Founder of Louisiana United International (LUI), Dr. Barbara Marino, Alexis Roberts McMillian, Pharmacist, Dr. Khadijah Askari, Dr. Linda Cheek, and Dr. Dahlia Kirkpatrick. Each doctor shared their stories of how they were initially contacted by the government, which resulted in Federal charges. Like their male counterparts, many of them were coerced into plea deals and or served prison time for practicing medicine.
"It is easy to attack to Black doctors. Financial circumstances make Black and Brown doctors easy targets," said Dr. Kirkpatrick. Dr. Askari agreed saying, [The attack on Black doctors] "Is part of the intention to the access of healthcare."
Senator Warnock was contacted by several Black and Brown doctors from our past panels after the mass shooting in Atlanta in early May; Warnock declined to participate in this discussion. Some of those doctors believe the shooting was directly linked to governments attack on regulating medication, which is not in their wheelhouse.
"The opioid crisis is government created or encouraged," said Dr. Cheek. According to Dr. Cheek, the government creates a "legal genocide society' when "rural communities, poor, disabled, and uninsured communities" are treated as expendable.
"It's all about the money," Dr. Cheek added. Many doctors have their assets, money, and property confiscated without ever going to trial. "America is racist," added Dr. Cheek.
Over a hundred years ago many of the drugs' doctors and others now go to jail for were available over the counter. "The war on drugs is over 100 years old," said Cheeks.
McMillian says Black pharmacies are in turn targeted when they dispense pain medicine with prescriptions that are legally written by Black and Brown doctors. "When physicians are regulated, they can't help their patients," she added.
LUI is a civil, constitutional, and human rights organization that has worked on behalf of several doctors who have had charges levied against by the government.
"I hear the voices of patients who are afraid to get a shot or go to the ER because they don't know if their doctor is going to be there," said Parker Brown. Studies have shown and Parker Brown agrees that "Patients get the best care from doctors who look like them."
"This is a disaster! This war against doctors, patients, and its constituents," said Parker Brown.
