Tucker Carlson just attacked Black physicians—and the response from docs is so satisfying
Key Takeaways
Industry Buzz
"Tell me you don't understand how med training works, without telling me… The reason why a program or a hospital may want a female physician is [because] patients are diverse, and patients do better when their doctors can relate and communicate with them better." — Vicki Chan, MD @vickichanmd
"Black women represent less than 0.8% of all surgeons in the US. I chose the field of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery because it’s a competitive field and I was an EXCEPTIONAL candidate. I hesitated responding to this r@cist rhetoric but decided it was better to show ‘em I’m best of D.E.I—Definitely Earned It." — Tonia L. Farmer, MD @drnosebest
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It’s one thing to criticize the healthcare system—it’s another to single out Black physicians as the root of its problems. Yet, that’s exactly where the conservative political commentator Tucker Carlson took his latest attack, setting off a firestorm of responses from doctors who are tired of people like Carlson stoking public mistrust in a healthcare system that already has enough problems.
In a recent segment, Tucker Carlson zeroed in on Black surgeons, insinuating that diversity efforts in medicine are compromising patient care. The message? That physicians of color are getting a free pass due to DEI initiatives rather than earning their place through merit. It’s an old, tired argument—but one that’s as dangerous as ever when amplified to a national audience.
Physicians fire back
The backlash from the medical community was swift. In a viral Instagram reel, OB/GYN Jennifer Lincoln, MD, IBCLC, dismantled Carlson’s rhetoric with a simple but powerful truth: Black doctors earn their credentials the same as everyone else—they go through the same grueling training, the same board certifications, and the same professional scrutiny as anyone else in the field.
Other physicians took to social media to call out the dog-whistle politics at play. Many pointed out that Black doctors have historically had to over-perform just to be seen as equal. They’ve been shut out of training programs, denied opportunities, and subjected to implicit bias at every stage of their careers. The idea that they’re now suddenly a “threat” to medicine? It’s as absurd as it is offensive.
Weaponizing mistrust in medicine
It’s a narrative that plays well to his audience—mistrust of institutions, skepticism of experts, and a belief that medicine is more about politics than care. But for physicians actually working in the trenches, it’s a gross oversimplification that ignores the real issues.
Carlson’s claims play into a broader anti-DEI narrative, one that paints diversity efforts as inherently lowering standards rather than expanding opportunities for qualified professionals. But let’s be clear: the idea that Black surgeons are less competent is not just false; it’s racist.
"Tell me you don't understand how med training works, without telling me… The reason why a program or a hospital may want a female physician is [because] patients are diverse, and patients do better when their doctors can relate and communicate with them better." — Vicki Chan, MD @vickichanmd
The irony? The real threat to patient safety isn’t diversity in medicine—it’s inequity. Study after study has shown that diverse teams improve patient outcomes, particularly for historically underserved populations. Black patients, for example, have significantly lower mortality rates when treated by Black doctors. But instead of addressing well-documented disparities in care, Carlson and those echoing his claims are manufacturing a crisis where none exists.
Why this narrative is dangerous
Beyond being blatantly racist, Carlson’s rhetoric has real-world consequences. Misinformation like this fuels mistrust in Black physicians, discourages future generations from pursuing medicine, and exacerbates existing racial disparities in healthcare. Patients already bring biases into exam rooms—what happens when a high-profile media figure amplifies those biases on a national scale?
The fight for equity in medicine is far from over, and this latest attack is a reminder of why it matters. Diversity in healthcare isn’t a threat—it’s a necessity. And while talking heads like Carlson continue to push division, physicians will continue doing what they’ve always done: putting patients first, despite the noise.
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