6. Black Americans and racial conspiracy theories about health care and medical research

Although the Tuskegee Syphilis Study is one of the best-known examples of race-based medical malpractice, there are others. Throughout the 20th century, Black women were subject to eugenics laws that forcibly sterilized them. In 1951, Henrietta Lacks’ cervical cells were harvested and studied without her knowledge or consent – a legal case that was settled in 2023. Today, both Black men and Black women specifically seek out Black doctors to avoid racial discrimination in medical care and improve their health outcomes. This history of mistrust provides the context for Black Americans’ beliefs in racial conspiracy theories about the health care system and medical research. Some Black Americans believe the health care system was designed to hold them back What is a ‘racial conspiracy theory’? In this report, the phrase “racial conspiracy theories” refers to the suspicions that Black adults might have about the actions of U.S. institutions based on their personal and collective historical experiences with racial discrimination. A 2022 Pew Research Center survey found mixed results in how Black adults assessed their experiences with health care. While nearly half (47%) said health outcomes for Black people have improved over the last 20 years, sizable minorities said they have stayed...