Unit 2, Equality, Diversity and Rights – P2, P3, M1, Case Studies Kieran Richards
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The Effects of Discriminatory Practices
The aim of this assignment is to different basis for discrimination related to a health and social care
setting, describe different types of discriminatory practices that might occur within health and social
care, describe 3 effects of discriminatory practices and explain how they could later lead on to ‘loss
of rights’ and finally assess the effects of four different discriminatory practices on service users,
using case studies, also including ‘loss of rights’. Services within health and social care aim to
practice equality amongst the service users. However, there are different group of people within
society who are still treated unequally.
Factors that may be basis for discrimination
There are many factors that can be the basis of discrimination. One of these factors can be age. The
definition of age is the length of time someone or something has lived or existed (Google Dictionary,
n.d.).” In society age is classified in to 5 groups. These are infants, children, adolescents, adults, and
older people (Earley, 2021). An example of age being the factor for discrimination in health and
social care is a health board refusing to give an elderly patient a hip replacement because of their
age and the possibility of them dying in the next few years. This discrimination could affect the
patient massively as they could have been struggling for many years and the operation could give
them some of their independence and freedom back doing everyday tasks that they can’t do.
Another factor of discrimination is disability. The definition of disability is a physical and/or mental
condition that limits someone’s ability (Google Dictionary, n.d.) such as hearing, vision, speech,
motor or mental function impairments (Earley, 2021). An example of disability being a factor for
discrimination in health and social care is. A patient refusing treatment by a doctor that has a
disability. Although the doctor has had the same knowledge as other doctor. The patient refuses
because they think that this doctor could get treatments wrong even if another doctor agrees. This
could affect the doctor as he could make them feel that they aren’t trusted because of their
disability. This could result in a decline in mental health and affect their performance as a doctor.
Another factor of discrimination is culture. The definition of culture is the ideas, customs, and social
behaviours of a community within society (Google Dictionary, n.d.). A minority of people get
discriminated against because of their culture within society (Earley, 2021). An example of culture
being a factor for discrimination in health and social care is in a hospital, where they put a person in
the private bedroom on the ward for being Muslim resulting in him being isolated away from the
other patients on the ward. This could affect the patient as it could make them feel isolated as they
are left in a room on their own. This could also result in a decline in their mental health. This is
because they are being left on their own for most of the day unless they are seen by a medical
professional or friends and family. Another factor of discrimination is sexuality. The definition of
sexuality is someone’s identity in relation to the gender/genders they are attracted to, this can also
be referred to as sexual orientation (Google Dictionary, n.d.). People who are gay, lesbian, bisexual,
or heterosexual can receive prejudice (Earley, 2021) which could develop into discrimination. An
example of sexuality being a factor for discrimination in health and social care is a resident in a care
home being left in a soiled incontinence pad because they are gay. This could affect the resident as it
could make them feel uncomfortable sitting in their own human waste and also, he may lose his
confidence in being able to ask for help by that staff at the care home. Another factor of
discrimination is cognitive ability. Cognitive ability is sometimes referred to as mental capability and
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