Potential Inequities in New Medical Technologies

As headline-catching new technologies emerge—like tools to “edit” our DNA—researchers, doctors, patients and the general public are excited about the future of medicine and the research that informs its practice. For some, there are obvious and critical conversations taking place about the ethics of this research, including how we do it (think “CRISPR babies” in China) and the potential for edits (intentional or otherwise) that could be passed on to future generations.

These conversations are important, but they can overshadow another equally important question.  Will all patients have equal access to these new technologies?

That question requires us to look back at the blemished history of medical research and health care that has resulted in some patients—based on their race, gender, income and other factors—having poorer access to health care and poorer health in general. In some cases, this is because the system neglected them. In others, because the system blatantly abused them. The question we must ask is: Will new treatments continue or even worsen deeply rooted disparities? Or will we lay the groundwork for future treatments that...