ONS Joins Health Community in Condemning Racism

June 10, 2020 by Alec Stone MA, MPA, Former ONS Director of Government Affairs and Advocacy

The death of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, spurred a national wave of protest. United in the wake of a global pandemic, people are doing what they feel is necessary to bring social justice and equality changes to the forefront of the American experience. Across the country, people are demanding immediate changes to a biased system. In a formal statement (https://www.ons.org/ons-condemns-racism), ONS condemned racism and called for “all of us to commit to an end to hatred, discrimination, and racism in every form.”

Almost every provider group, patient advocacy organization, and health nonprofit association released similar statements (https://voice.ons.org/sites/default/files/2020-06/NCC%20Members%20Response%20to%20Racism%20and%20Injustice_FINAL%20DRAFT.pdf) and drew a direct line from racism to unequal access to health care. 

“As oncology nurses, we know the disparities in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Cancer is a global disease, and the fight against it is being waged every minute of every day in health systems around the world,” the June 1, 2020, ONS statement proclaims. “Oncology nurses are at the forefront of this battle, delivering care, carrying out clinical trials, and advancing evidence-based research. We act without regard to race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or nationality and advocate for those underserved by the healthcare system.”

To learn how ONS is making a difference, or to get involved, visit the ONS Center for Advocacy and Health Policy (https://www.ons.org/make-difference/ons-center-advocacy-and-health-policy).


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