How an Algorithm Blocked Kidney Transplants to Black Patients
A formula for assessing the gravity of kidney disease is one of many that is adjusted for race. The practice can exacerbate health disparities.
An algorithm used in the US supposed to estimate kidney function, the severity of the disease and allocation of kidney transplants, is found to be racially skewed, under-allocating necessary resources to black patients. A study demonstrates that the algorithm took an individual’s race into account, meaning that they were not offered a kidney transplant when they should have been. This racially skewed algorithm is exacerbating health inequalities.
