In Video: How Trump’s anti-DEI efforts could hinder life-saving technology research

In Video: How Trump’s anti-DEI efforts could hinder life-saving technology research

The Battle for Accurate Oxygen Levels: A Rare Look at the Race to Make Life-Saving Technology Work for All Patients

The response to low oxygen levels is different for everyone, and doctors are testing pulse oximeters, those common devices put on your finger to measure oxygen levels in the blood. However, the problem is that they are generally not as precise for darker-skinned patients as they are for white ones.

The Search for Equality

The University of California, San Francisco’s Dr. Michael Lipnik is leading a massive effort to find devices that work equally well regardless of skin pigment. His team is testing about 50 devices, and they are looking to answer critical questions such as how many people of color need to be studied to make sure they are well represented in clinical trials and whether expensive pulse oximeters work any better.

The Cost of Inaction

The future of Lipnik’s research is in question as the bulk of it has been funded by federal health agencies like the FDA and US Aid, both of which are now in the crosshairs of President Trump’s spending cuts and attacks on diversity programs. The FDA did not respond to requests for comment on funding Lipnik’s research, and US Aid’s offices are in the process of being shut down.

A Matter of Life and Death

Tamisa Star knows all too well the importance of accurate oxygen levels. 14 years ago, she told doctor after doctor she was having trouble breathing, becoming so light-headed at times she said it affected her vision. Her pulse oximeter readings were always in the healthy range, but she was finally diagnosed with a chronic condition and now needs oxygen wherever she goes.

A Call to Action

Dr. NOA Alala at the Roots Community Health clinic in Oakland is now suing a number of companies that make or sell pulse oximeters, demanding change. The clinic is urging patients to understand the limitations of the devices and to make sure providers aren’t relying solely on pulse oximeters when making decisions about their care.

The FDA’s Response

The FDA has been looking into the issue for years and has just released a draft of suggestions for manufacturers, including recommendations to widen the variety of skin tones when testing the devices. Meanwhile, Dr. Alala urges patients to arrive at appointments with printed copies of research showing the potential for racial disparities and to find their baseline oxygen level on devices used at home.

The Fight for Funding

As researchers at UCSF are hopeful they’ll find a solution before funding potentially dries up, Dr. Alala says every second without action puts another patient at risk. The battle for accurate oxygen levels is far from over, and it’s a fight that requires immediate attention and action.