Equity vs Equality

Equality and equity both have positive connations, they mean to have everyone have the potential to eventually succeed. The way equality and equity are implemented, though, differs heavily. In medicine, both are valuable for patient care and the quality of outcomes.

Definition

Picture a tall apple tree. It's July, and the sun is sweltering without a cloud in sight. You and your brother go to the apple tree, but neither of you are close to tall enough to reach the apples. Equality is when you both get the same-sized ladders to go pick up the apples. But let's add a twist. Let's say your side of the tree is ever so slightly taller and the angles are angled upward, so the apples are just out of reach. Now what?

Although you have achieved equality, the conditions are still not fair. You both have a ladder to reach the apples, but one ladder isn't enough to grant fair conditions to both of you.

Equality is defined as the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and opportunities. Although you and your brother have equal abilities to reach the apples, your overall situation is putting you at a disadvantage.

In medicine, equality means to give patients equal care, but equal care often isn't enough when some patients have more severe conditions or greater needs. Some patients may require financial assistance.

While equality is useful to solve simple problems where people have the same problem with the same one problem, it is often not enough when trying to create fairness for all, especially since equality is such a one-dimensional solution to often multi-faceted or multi-dimensional problems in medicine. Diseases and people's situations have multiple problems and multiple perspectives, so it is important to use equity to create fairness as well.

Let's go back to the tree example. Your brother starts gobbling apples and he doesn't let you eat any on his side, so you need to find a bigger ladder. You call your father to bring another, taller ladder, you can eat them as well.

Now both of you are happy!

Equity is defined as the quality of being fair and impartial. To make the situation fair for everybody, unequal opportunities are given to the people in the situation. Equity in hospitals means everybody is treated fairly by putting them on a level playing field. For example, people may be granted financial assistance or more care for certain conditions or diseases.

While achieving equality and equity is difficult, getting as close as possible to them will help healthcare become better. Thank you for reading, and please leave any thoughts down in the comments below.

For Further Reading

https://onlinepublichealth.gwu.edu/resources/equity-vs-equality/