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Several years ago, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Commission on Social Determinants of Health (SDH) put out a publication with a title that asked a poignant question: “Why treat people’s illnesses without changing what makes them sick in the first place?” There have been multiple times over the years when I have asked myself the same question — sometimes several times a day. Here are two hypothetical patients, Melvin and Mildred whose hospital course can illustrate why disparate health outcomes among our patients make many clinicians ask that same question the WHO asked above. (Sosena Kebede MD, 5/19)

When Dr. Tamisha Jones meets with patients at the Legacy Fifth Ward health clinic, she usually sees parents with what she calls “the look.” That look of weary realization when the struggles they faced to take time off from work and get to their kid’s medical appointment on time, hit one more obstacle. That look when they’re told that their child’s Medicaid coverage has lapsed and that doctor’s visit may have to wait. (5/19)

The Supreme Court announced Monday that it will hear oral arguments in a Mississippi abortion case — Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization — that would completely ban the procedure at 15 weeks after the start of a woman's last period before conception, with no exceptions for victims of sexual assault. Advocates and activists on both sides of the abortion divide have said this is a signal that the court is ready to overturn Roe v. Wade — but we've heard that so many times before. Unfortunately, this time they are right. (Robin Marty, 5/18)

“Why do Black lives matter?” a patient asked me. “Why can’t all lives matter?” It was just a few weeks into my residency, and I hadn’t been expecting a patient to ask me that question. I certainly wasn’t trained to respond to it even though I, along with many of my colleagues, wore Black Lives Matter pins. The patient, who identified as white, looked at me, an Asian American physician, with curiosity. “Was it even my place to answer?” I thought then. (Minali Nigam, 5/19)