The National Medical Association recently held its 117^th annual convention in Los Angeles, California.  One of the more enlightening sessions addressed sickle cell anemia, a major chronic disease that affects one in every 500 African Americans in the United States.  It is not a health disparity, but a disease that many black families fear and greatly respect.

Many sickle cell patients report that they are treated with disrespect when they present to the ER in a painful crisis.  This has also been noted by family members and patient advocates.  It has been reported that ER physicians are not accustomed to treating these patients and often fail to provide adequate pain medication for the severe pain they experience.  They, often, are not treated in a timely fashion and spend an inordinate amount of time waiting to be treated.