Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO) - Bias In Medicine (with Wanda Sykes and Larry David)
John Oliver discusses the roles that gender and racial bias can play in medical treatment.
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She's both smart and entertaining! I became aware of the bias against females ages ago. I was a psych major and remember hearing that women weren't included in most medical studies. And the ignorance regarding black people truly boggles the mind! So it certainly figures that LGBT people would confront the same issues as well. And yet this is still happening in the 21st century! 
And I went to a pretty progressive school, so we were discussing these issues even back then. I remember hearing that women experience the symptoms of a heart attack differently, yet even now not much has changed. And the uterine cancer study he reported on truly boggles the mind! 
That is very cool that you broke new ground in creating a course! I knew several gay classmates when I was in school, like I said my school was pretty progressive, it was never a secret. But I discovered recently that one of my psych professors was as well. That was never mentioned. 
And thanks for the recommendation! Wanda Sykes is a long time favorite. I can also recommend "Alpha House," which I watched ages ago - she was also in that, just not of the main characters. That was also very funny and has a terrific cast - Rachel Maddow even makes an appearance. 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_House
The characters were just terrific! I watched several episodes more than once. There was talk of them doing a third season and I was hopeful, but I guess it's not going to happen... 
There's no excuse for that in this day of medical advances, but John and Wanda spoke the truth. I'm low thyroid, have been on meds for years, but my issue back in the '90s was fibroids. I was lucky, had my first two surgeries at Mass General in Boston - I was determined to avoid a hysterectomy. Yet my grandmother, who was pretty enlightened about most things, kept saying "tell that nice nurse in Boston to remove your female organs." By that, she meant my surgeon who was female! I could actually laugh about it at the time. And I was in a lot of pain, but got a extension of my pain meds from my acupuncture doctor - I saw him regularly and it helped, but didn't cure me, I needed the surgery. And he kept telling me to "just call her (my surgeon) - it's not like a scalpel is going to shoot out of the phone!" We females go through a lot, I've been there, too... 
been there too. So sorry you had to live with it too. Hugs my friend.
And I loved seeing Wanda Sykes! Humorous as usual, but its a very serious issue. This is why all my doctors are women (with the exception of an orthopedic trauma surgeon, but I didn't have much of a choice and he was the top Dr. at MGH, so I didn't mind that much).
I feel like female doctors take me more seriously and spend more time with me. I really love the doctors I have here in Boston and I feel like I get excellent care. I am sure there are many fine male doctors out there as well, but if they don't have a woman's body, they don't really know what it feels like to be us. They will never really understand, and many of the old-timers aren't the least bit empathetic.
Anyway, I think as time goes on we will see more female and minority doctors and healthcare professionals and this bias will change.
Thanks for posting, Rhiannon! 
He rarely has guests, so Wanda Sykes was a special treat - and quite perfect at what she had to say, and with humor, too! I think I told you that I had surgery (twice) at Mass General and the surgeon who I was lucky to find - she was recommended to me - was female! I agree that Boston is the best place in this part of the country to go for serious medical issues. Someone I know just had serious - and successful - heart surgery also at Mass General - and he's a doctor himself, so knew the best place to go!
I have no reason to doubt John Oliver's research, he always has a solid show - or admits it if there has been a mistake - but this was a topic that resonated with people personally, so the follow up is appreciated! And welcome to DU!
