Changes to Black Doctor Directory Following Lawsuit

A directory that connected future patients with doctors of a specific race has been revised in light of a recent lawsuit.

The legal action was initiated by Do No Harm, a group focused on legal reforms, against Wurd Radio, a Philadelphia station known for promoting “Black talk media.”

As outlined in the court filings, WURD managed a Black Doctor Directory in collaboration with the Consortium of DEI Health Educators and the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Medicine.

I found it interesting that the radio station advertised this directory as a means to address the “Philadelphia health gap”.

According to a social media post, the directory aimed to “connect you with Black doctors from major hospitals.”

This week, the directory was renamed to reflect a broader inclusion, emphasizing that doctors are no longer filtered by race.

“The Black Doctors Directory is now titled the Community Health and Wellness Directory. Participation in it is not based on race,” stated a press release.

The lawsuit highlighted that the directory needed to implement additional changes.

Wurd Radio agreed to adopt a name that is either race-neutral or clear, such as “licensed doctors in the Greater Philadelphia area” for the directory’s listings.

However, legal documents suggested that licensed practitioners should show a commitment to serving underrepresented communities, without inquiring about their race.

Following the lawsuit’s exposure, Phillyblackdoctors.com appeared to no longer showcase Wurd’s page, which previously promoted the directory on Facebook.

“It’s reassuring that the directory now welcomes doctors of all races,” commented Stanley Goldfarb, Chairman of Do No Harm in Maryland. “We have consistently opposed ‘racial exclusivity’ which does not serve anyone well. It’s a concept that fosters uncertainty and bias.”

Goldfarb further expressed, “When healthcare providers focus on expertise and quality, patients can expect improved health outcomes.”