This synthesis essay responds to a research-based assignment that asks students to examine a social issue related to language and analyze how it affects people’s lived experiences. In my essay, I focus on biased language in healthcare and how the way healthcare providers communicate can negatively impact immigrant patients. I argue that stigmatizing language reinforces assumptions about race, class, and immigration status, weakens patient trust, and can influence both diagnosis and treatment. Through synthesis, I connect these sources to show patterns in how bias appears in both spoken interactions and written medical records, as well as the consequences of that bias. Through this assignment, I strengthened my ability to analyze and connect sources rather than summarize them separately. I also improved my use of evidence to support a clear argument and practiced writing for an academic audience using more precise language.

Biased Language 

Language plays a fundamental role in healthcare. It shapes how patients understand their conditions, trust their providers and respond to care. When communication is respectable and clear, health outcomes and patient satisfaction are usually fulfilled. However, when bias plays a role in the language that healthcare providers use, the impact can be harmful. Biased language is language that reflects stereotypes, assumptions, or prejudices about a person’s background, race, social status or immigration status, whether intentional or not. For immigrant patients, this type of communication can negatively impact their service which harms them and makes them feel disrespected or hesitant to seek medical help. It creates barriers to effective care and contributes to misunderstanding. It reduces trust which ultimately leads to worse health outcomes. Biased language used by healthcare providers harms immigrant patients because it reinforces discrimination and assumptions about the patient, harms patient trust and negatively influences diagnosis and treatment, which all ultimately leads to poorer healthcare outcomes. 

Biased language used by healthcare providers harms immigrant patients because it reinforces discrimination and assumptions about socioeconomic or immigration status. In clinical settings, this language can contribute to implicit bias among healthcare workers, who may make assumptions based on stereotypes about race or social background. According to a study by the Kaiser Family Foundation, “one in eight (13%) adults with limited English proficiency say there was a time in the past three years when a healthcare provider or their staff treated them unfairly or with disrespect because of their race or ethnic background. Reflecting these experiences, about half (48%) of adults with LEP say they feel they have to be very careful about their appearance in order to be treated fairly (44%) and/or prepare for possible insults from a provider or their staff (18%) at least some of the time during healthcare visits.” These statistics demonstrate that discrimination based on language, race, or background significantly affects patients’ experiences and contributes to a healthcare environment in which patients feel judged or unwelcome. Holland Kaplan, MD, an assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine, has observed stigmatizing language in patients’ medical records, such as labeling them “non-compliant.” Kaplan notes that this term is often applied without considering underlying reasons for treatment difficulties, including socioeconomic factors or limited health literacy. Such labels profile patients based on their circumstances rather than their behavior, reinforcing bias and shaping how providers deliver care. Biased language in these contexts does more than reflect prejudice—it actively harms immigrant patients by influencing how they are perceived, how they are treated, and how much they trust the healthcare system.

Biased language used by healthcare providers harms immigrant patients because it can make them lose trust in the healthcare system. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, Figure 1 illustrates (figure 1)

many immigrants prefer going to local clinics rather than private doctors’ offices because hospitals often feel unwelcoming. Immigrant patients may feel that their language, culture, and concerns aren’t respected. About one-third of adults with limited English proficiency say they have trouble scheduling appointments, understanding prescriptions, or communicating with office staff. The language used in hospitals can make patients feel misunderstood and judged, which prevents them from getting the full care they deserve. Biases in written medical notes can include disapproval, questioning a patient’s credibility, labeling a patient as difficult, stereotyping, and making decisions without patient input. Research shows that certain groups, such as non-Hispanic Black individuals and people of color, are described using negative or stigmatizing language (Center for Health Care Strategies, 2022). For example, Black patients were 2.5 times more likely than White patients to have at least one negative description in their notes. Biased documentation can cause patients to feel dismissed or judged, leading them to avoid care, withhold information, or not follow medical advice. The Center for Health Care Strategies notes that biased language in electronic health records increases the risk that patients will avoid needed care, highlighting that biased language harms immigrant patients’ access to effective healthcare.

Biased language used by healthcare providers harms immigrant patients because it negatively influences diagnosis and treatment. A study conducted by Austin Wesevich, MD, MPH, MS, a hematologist and health service researcher at the University of Chicago Medicine, argues that “hearing a patient described with scorn, skepticism, or stereotype-based assumptions appears to reduce the listener’s ability to recall essential clinical details like lab results, symptoms to watch for overnight, or recommended treatments.” He set up an experiment with two versions, one neutral scenario and another with a negative stereotype. The one with negative stereotypes would receive less proper treatment compared to the neutral one because of the biased language in the lab. This demonstrates that because of the biased language healthcare workers have, it can directly impact the quality of medical care patients receive. Similarly, “A 2018 randomized controlled vignette study examined how language in the medical record of a hypothetical patient with sickle cell disease would influence physicians who read the note. Readers of stigmatizing (vs neutral) language had more negative attitudes toward the patient and opted to administer less analgesia, even though all clinically relevant information was the same.” This study was conducted by Somnath Soha who received his medical degree in internal medicine from the University of California and other researchers. This explicitly shows that since the language written by healthcare workers was stigmatizing, the treatment given to that patient was less helpful than someone with neutral statements would get even though all the health conditions were the same.When healthcare providers use biased or stigmatizing language, it can lead to misdiagnosis and unequal treatment towards the patient. Overall, evidence shows that when negative language is used against patients, it does harm the treatment they get. 

Some might argue that biased language by healthcare providers does not affect patients negatively. They believe based on medical evidence, ethical standards and established treatments that their diagnosis is valid and will help the patient. However, this assumption overlooks the fact that the system itself can be shaped by pre-existing stereotypes and biases. Which raises the concerns about its overall fairness. When these biases are embedded in medical communication, they can reinforce harmful assumptions about certain patient groups. Ultimately affecting the quality of care they receive. In reality, the only people who remain unaffected by biased language are those who do not commonly face discrimination. 

When considering how language affects healthcare, it becomes clear that biased communication harms communities who cannot get proper care because of language discrimination. Immigrant patients or anyone who cannot speak English fluently are at a disadvantage which leads to poor healthcare. Meanwhile, healthcare workers may benefit by having less work to do if they dismiss these patients. That’s why raising awareness about biased language is important so providers and the public understand the problems within this issue. Short term effects of biased languages can include miscommunication and poorer quality treatment and the long term effect would be negative consequences to patients health and how much they trust the healthcare system. This issue matters because everyone deserves equal access and care to proper healthcare. To address this problem, healthcare workers need better training to recognize and eliminate biased language and federal laws should be more strictly enforced. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination based on race or color in programs receiving federal funding. Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act expanded these protections and requires access to interpreter services for patients with limited English proficiency. The Americans with Disabilities also requires effective communication for every patient with disabilities. If these laws were implemented more, it would help patients feel more comfortable and safe. Ultimately, reducing biased language will create more equality and trust that ensures that every patient receives the care they deserve.

Works Cited

Gonzalez-Barrera, Ana. “Language Barriers in Health Care: Findings from the KFF Survey on Racism, Discrimination, and Health.” KFF, 16 May 2024, www.kff.org/racial-equity-and-health-policy/language-barriers-in-health-care-findings-from-the-kff-survey-on-racism-discrimination-and-health/.

Kusterbeck, Stacey. “Stigmatizing Language in Patient Charts Linked to Diagnostic Errors.” Clinician.com, 1 Aug. 2024, www.clinician.com/articles/stigmatizing-language-in-patient-charts-linked-to-diagnostic-errors.

Niewijk, Grace. “Biased Language in Clinical Handoffs May Negatively Impact Patient Care.” UChicago Medicine, www.uchicagomedicine.org/forefront/research-and-discoveries-articles/biased-language-in-clinical-handoffs-may-negatively-impact-patient-care.

Park, Jenny. “Physician Use of Stigmatizing Language in Patient Medical Records.” JAMA Network Open, 14 July 2021, jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2781937.

Silverman, Karla. “Improving Health Equity by Eliminating Biased and Stigmatizing Language in Medical Notes.” Center for Health Care Strategies, 18 Sept. 2025, www.chcs.org/resource/improving-health-equity-by-eliminating-biased-and-stigmatizing-language-in-medical-notes/.