Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future, and renders the present inaccessible.
—Maya Angelou
THE WORDS OF THE POET MAYA ANGELOU remind us that our personal biases are much more inhibiting than we realize, creating psychological filters that prevent us from seeing things as they really are. Without an unbiased view of our past, we are unable to live authentically in the present or forge a productive path to the future. Scholars refer to our limited, inaccurate take on the world around us as “perspectivism”— the idea that knowledge of a subject is invariably partial and limited by the individual perspective from which it is viewed. All of this is particularly relevant in the midst of the current hyper-charged atmosphere surrounding race in the United States. In this issue of JMR, we launch a new series of articles intended to raise consciousness in the medical regulatory community of diversity, equity and inclusion — with the first, “How Diverse are State Medical Boards?” (page 33), examining diversity in governance. Other articles will explore steps state medical boards can take as we seek to build a more equitable and inclusive environment. We welcome your feedback and ideas as the series continues…Two other lead articles are featured in this issue: The first, “Disciplinary Action Against UK Health Professionals for Sexual Misconduct: A Matter of Reputational Damage or Public Safety?” (page 7), explains the process used in the United Kingdom for disciplining UK health professionals who violate sexual boundaries in their professional practices. “Characteristics, Predictors and Reasons for Regulatory Body Disciplinary Action in Health Care: A Scoping Review” (page 17) summarizes a review of scholarly literature on medical regulation, suggesting that much more research is needed about disciplinary processes so regulators can do a better job of developing strategies to decrease the need for disciplinary action. We hope you find value in the work of all of our featured authors.
