Pulse oximeters, used to measure blood oxygen levels, have been found to be three times more likely to miss dangerously low levels in Black patients compared to white patients. This racial bias has caused delays in treatment and worse health outcomes, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The FDA has been urged to address this issue, but industry pushback has complicated the process. Despite efforts to improve the accuracy of pulse oximeters, challenges remain in testing them, especially in patients with darker skin tones. Clinicians continue to face difficulties relying on these devices, highlighting the need for better solutions.
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FDA’s Promised Guidance on Pulse Oximeters Unlikely To End Decades of Racial Bias
