The May-June 1977 issue of HealthPAC Bulletin focuses on the persistent underrepresentation of minority students in U.S. medical schools, highlighting that despite some gains in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the situation has not significantly improved. The issue discusses the implications of the upcoming U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the Bakke case, which challenges affirmative action policies in medical school admissions. It also features a retrospective on medical education since the Flexner report, revealing that the demographics of medical students remain largely unchanged over the decades. Notable columns address issues of healthcare costs, women's rights, and the Delaney Amendment, while a media scan reviews Michel Foucault's work on medical perception.
This issue of HealthPAC Bulletin focuses on the challenges of affirmative action in medical schools, particularly in light of the Bakke v. Regents of the University of California case. It highlights the stagnation of minority enrollment in health professional schools and critiques the ineffective measures taken to promote diversity. Additionally, the issue discusses the obstetrical experiences of urban poor women in East Harlem, emphasizing the alienation they face within the healthcare system. The publication also touches on the rise of home health testing kits and their implications for patient autonomy in healthcare.