HEALTH: Equity is essential

The culture of medicine and the provision of care is changing, but the notion of health equity has still not reached the consciousness of some of our local providers.

It is important that those who seek medical care are treated as people in need of help rather than marginalized because of diagnosis of mental illness or addiction.

We as a community are becoming more diverse, which is a beautiful thing to behold. Let’s teach our medical staff to treat people with “a past” or “a difficult mental health diagnosis” as patients in need of care, rather than a problematic nuisance.

Here’s hoping for a local change of heart. It is certainly needed.

GWENDOLEN SCHELL

Coeur d’Alene