Examples of participant comments on avoiding discriminating
| SUBTHEME | COMMENTS |
|---|---|
| Striving for professional neutrality | “I try and have always tried … to be colour blind.” |
| “You’re human, and you have to make an extra effort in order to put things aside.” | |
| “You have to [adopt] a nonjudgmental attitude, keep [up] the empathetic side of you.” | |
| “I treated [the patient] as best I could, but I was constantly aware that I had to just be my ordinary doctor-self and not let my biases get in the way, and I don’t think they did.” | |
| Reflecting on the self to set aside biases | “It took me a while to think [it] through … why did I react so strongly to that [patient’s decision]? It just made me aware that I have a certain cultural sense, and she had quite a different one. That was just one of those gaps between us; I guess they’re differences. So, I guess, if I sense that kind of difference, my goal is usually to try to retreat into professionalism, if you will, and do the best I can, at the same time reflecting [on] why and what is it that’s going on here.” |