UM graduate black doctor reports racist medical care on viral video before dying from COVID

DETROIT – A hospital in Indiana is promising a thorough review of the treatment of a black doctor who died of coronavirus days before Christmas.

December 26, 2020: Michigan coronavirus cases up to 477,269; Death toll now at 12,029

Dr. Susan Moore, 52, a Michigan native, went viral in early December when she reported racist medical treatment, documenting her struggle with a hospital and a particular doctor.

In a Facebook post, Moore said Bannec had a bad reputation for years.

READ: Black doctor who grew up in Michigan dies of COVID after complaints of racist treatment

Moore graduated in medicine from the University of Michigan in 2002 and studied engineering at Kettering University in Flint. For years, she practiced in Grand Rapids.

She died in Indiana on December 20 after recording a viral video that highlighted racial prejudices in the healthcare field.

“I claim that if I were white, I wouldn’t have to go through this,” said Moore in the video.

Moore was admitted to Indiana University Health North Hospital after a positive test for COVID-19. In the video, Moore said his health concerns were ruled out by a white doctor.

“That’s how black people are killed, when you send them home, and they don’t know how to fight for themselves,” said Moore in the December 4 video.

Moore said the doctor who was treating her said that she did not qualify for treatment with Remdesivir and had to ask repeatedly for a CT scan. The scan showed swollen lymph nodes and excess fluid in the lungs.

She was eventually released, but only for 12 hours. As her conditioning deteriorated, she was admitted to another hospital – Ascencion St. Vincent – where she died of complications caused by COVID.

The president and CEO of Indiana University Health issued a statement that says in part:

The coronavirus pandemic disproportionately affected black men and women. In response, the state of Michigan initiated the Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities and required implicit bias training for healthcare professionals.

RELATED: Michigan declares racism public health crisis, will require implicit bias training for public officials

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Tackling racial disparities with regard to COVID-19

When the outbreak of COVID-19 began, the virus hit black and brown communities with indescribable losses.

Since April, the Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Race Disparities has been working to eliminate the impact that COVID-19 has had on communities of color.

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