Affirmative Action in Medical School: A Comparative Exploration. Issue 2 (2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sander, Richard
• Editors: Sullivan, Laura Specker; Sade, Robert M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of law, medicine & ethics. Volume 49:Issue 2(2021)
• Page Start: 190
• Page End: 205
• Publication Date: 2021
• Subjects: Affirmative Action -- Racial Preferences -- Mismatch -- Diversity -- Discrimination; Medical laws and legislation -- United States -- Periodicals; Medical care -- Law and legislation -- United States -- Periodicals; Medical ethics -- Periodicals; Jurisprudence -- Periodicals; Legislation, Medical -- Periodicals; Legislation, Nursing -- Periodicals; Ethics -- Periodicals; Forensic Medicine -- Periodicals; Nursing -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Societies -- Periodicals; Medical care -- Law and legislation; Medical ethics; Medical laws and legislation; United States; Periodicals; 344.73041
• DOI: 10.1017/jme.2021.29
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1073-1105

Abstract

Abstract: A significant body of evidence shows that law schools and many elite colleges use large admissions preferences based on race, and other evidence strongly suggests that large preferences can undermine student achievement in law school and undergraduate science majors, thus producing highly counterproductive effects. This article draws on available evidence to examine the use of racial preferences in medical school admissions, and finds strong reasons for concern about the effects and effectiveness of current affirmative action efforts. The author calls for better data and careful investigation of several identified patterns.